PRIME MINISTER

Dr. David Kelly

Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister what disciplinary action he has taken against his official spokesman, Mr. Tom Kelly, in respect of his spokeman's remarks to journalists about the late Dr. David Kelly.

Tony Blair: My official spokesman unreservedly apologised to Dr. Kelly's widow and her family. Lord Hutton is conducting an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr. David Kelly and the Government are awaiting his report.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Local Government

Helen Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the future financing of local government administration.

Phil Hope: In April this year, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister launched a review into the current balance of funding for local government. The review has recently completed a period of extensive consultation, and we are now considering a range of options.
	Local government has received a record 25 per cent. increase in Government grant in real terms since we took office in 1997—compared with a real terms cut of 7 per cent. under the last four years of the party opposite's time in office.

Leisure Facilities

Mark Todd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he gives to local authorities on the obligations of housing developers to provide sports and leisure facilities.

Yvette Cooper: Planning Policy Guidance note 17 on Open Space, Sport and Recreation (2002) states that local authorities should ensure provision is made for local sports and recreational facilities where planning permission is granted for new developments, especially for housing.
	These facilities can be secured through planning obligations, also known as Section 106 agreements, which are agreed between developers and local planning authorities.

Council Housing

Graham Allen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will fund council housing departments on the same basis as arm's length management organisations; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: My hon. Friend asks if the Government will fund council housing departments on the same basis as Arms Length Management Organisations, and the answer to that is no.
	As my hon. Friend is aware, the funding available for social housing, although greatly increased under this Government, is inevitably limited; and we wish to use it in ways that will most improve the lives of tenants.
	The evidence is that Arms Length Management Organisations enhance the quality of service to tenants. It provides the extra funding needed to improve their homes and the local environment; and it enables the local authority to focus on its strategic housing role.

Council Housing

Dennis Skinner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average council rent is for those (a) local housing authorities with non-transferred housing stock and (b) local council areas where housing stock has been transferred to housing associations and other bodies.

Keith Hill: A table showing the rent comparison by local authority area and English region is available in the Libraries of the House.

East Midlands Councils

David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received about the impact on councils in the East Midlands of the new formula funding arrangements.

Nick Raynsford: The East Midlands received £220 million more this year than last, an increase of 7 per cent. in general grant and, along with the West Midlands, the largest increase of any region in England. We have not subsequently received many representations from the Midlands. During the earlier consultation on changes to the local government finance system, 20 representations from local authorities and Members of this House were received which related to the East Midlands.

Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the impact of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.

Keith Hill: The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 provides a fairer balance between the rights of landlords and leaseholders. Key provisions of the Act, applying to England, were introduced on 30 September 2002. These included a new Right to Manage, improved rights for leaseholders to challenge unreasonable charges and improved tribunal dispute resolution procedures.
	For details of commencement dates in Wales, which I understand are after those of England, I would advise my hon. Friend to speak to the Welsh Assembly.

Council Tax

Tom Brake: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent assessment he has conducted of the impact of council tax on pensioners.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not conducted such an assessment. However, council tax benefit, administered by the Department for Work and Pensions, is available to help low income pensioners pay their council tax. Council tax benefit is paid to around 3.9 million households in England, of which around two million are pensioners. With the recent introduction of pension credit, some 1.6 million pensioners will gain benefit and 310,000 will be entitled to benefit for the first time.

Council Tax

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the advice that he has offered to Kent County Council on their desire to fix the level of council tax increases for pensioners at the rate of inflation.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister arranged for a copy of my letter of 6 October 2003 to Kent County Council to be available in the Library of the House.

Behavioural Neurosciences Centre (Cambridge)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he (a) received and (b) expects to publish the Inspector's report into the planning appeal against South Cambridgeshire District Council's refusal of planning permission for a Behavioural Neurosciences Centre at Huntingdon Road, Cambridge.

Keith Hill: This report was received in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 17 March 2003. It is under active consideration and my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will issue a decision as soon as possible.

Flooding

David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what powers parish councils have to pay for flood prevention schemes.

Nick Raynsford: Section 137 of the 1972 Act permits parish councils to spend up to a given amount in a financial year on items that are 'of direct benefit to their area' in relation to which no other powers of expenditure exist. Flood prevention schemes might be regarded as such an item.
	Primary responsibility for flood prevention measures is borne by other public bodies, however, with responsibility for ordinary watercourses generally falling to district and unitary councils.

Housing Developments

Anne Campbell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to ensure that major new housing development is adequately served by public transport.

Keith Hill: All major housing development is assessed against PPG13 as part of the planning system, which requires full account to be taken of the provision of, and effects on, public transport.
	In addition, in the four growth areas identified in "Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future", proposals for growth are set out in proposed changes to Regional Planning Guidance, which is subject to consultation and examination in public. As part of this process we are working very closely with the Department for Transport to assess the transport implications and needs of future housing provision. One of the purposes of the RPG process is to test sustainability of proposals for new housing in the Growth Areas, including access to good public transport for new developments.

Housing Stock Transfers

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the role that the Audit Commission plays in advising local authorities who are undertaking large scale voluntary transfer of their housing stock.

Keith Hill: Where the Audit Commission, through the district audit service, is an authority's external auditor, it is a resource that is available to an authority. Therefore, it could advise on the implications of, and risks that, an authority faces in implementing any of the options for delivery of the decent home target for social housing, one of which is to undertake a large scale voluntary transfer.

Housing Stock Transfers

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the advice given to local authorities on communications strategies for those authorities which are undertaking large scale voluntary transfer of their housing stock.

Keith Hill: Advice to local authorities on drawing up their communication strategies for Large Scale Voluntary Transfers is contained in section 4 of the Housing Transfer Manual 2003, published in March 2003.

Voluntary Tenancy Deposits

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of (a) landlords and (b) tenants have signed up to the voluntary tenancy deposit pilot scheme.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister estimates that 16,000 tenancies were covered by the voluntary tenancy deposit pilot scheme. Not all of these were located strictly within the five pilot areas, so that the estimated take-up rate of 7 per cent. is subject to a margin of error.

Voluntary Tenancy Deposits

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of the value of making membership of a tenancy deposit scheme a legal requirement for (a) landlords and (b) tenants.

Keith Hill: Last autumn, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister issued a consultation paper on options for Government intervention in landlords' and letting agents' handling of tenancy monies. This included an assessment of having a mandatory scheme (or schemes). The assessment was based partly on the evaluation of the pilot Tenancy Deposit Scheme carried out by the University of York.

TRANSPORT

Airport Capacity (South-East)

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the need for further terminal capacity at Heathrow Airport in the event that a third runway is built.

Tony McNulty: For all options for additional capacity that were studied in SERAS, including those on which the Government consulted, an assessment was made of the scale of facilities needed to cater for the forecast additional throughput (eg passenger and freight handling, maintenance, aircraft stands, aprons, cargo, car parking). Layout plans based on those assessments were produced and their impacts appraised. Paragraph 6.6. of "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom—South East" made clear that these layouts were not definitive proposals. Detailed design will be a matter for the relevant airport developer.

Airport Capacity (South-East)

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to stop any further developments at Heathrow, if a third runway is approved.

Tony McNulty: The air transport White Paper later this year will provide a framework of Government policy looking forward to 2030, including where any new airport capacity should be provided.

Airport Capacity (South-East)

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether decisions on terminal capacity for the options set out in the SERAS consultation paper will be made without public consultation.

Tony McNulty: For each of the options presented in the consultation document, the layouts illustrated allowed for adequate terminal capacity to be provided. The precise location of terminal and other facilities would be determined as part of the planning process for any relevant airport development.

Airport Capacity (South-East)

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department will take immediately following the publication of the White Paper on the future of airport expansion in the UK later this year.

Tony McNulty: Action by the Department following publication of the White Paper will depend on the decisions announced in it.

Bechtel

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list contracts for consultancy or work carried out by Bechtel in each year since 1997 stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Department was formed on 29 May 2002 and has not awarded any contracts to Bechtel.

Blue Badge Scheme

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what plans he has to propose legislation on the Blue Badge Scheme following the recommendations of the Disabled Persons' Advisory Committee;
	(2)  what progress has been made towards the formation of a central database of Blue Badge holders;
	(3)  how much money was raised from charges for applications for Blue Badge disability vehicle stickers in each year since 1990; and what percentage each of these figures represents of the estimated cost of administering the badges in those years;
	(4)  how many people have been prosecuted for abuse of the Blue Badge disability vehicle sticker system in each year since 1990;
	(5)  what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive regarding new common guidance on the issuing of Blue Badge disability vehicle stickers.

Tony McNulty: Following the review of the Blue Badge Scheme, we are taking forward DPTAC's recommendations through changes to primary and secondary legislation, research and in new guidance to local authorities on the Scheme.
	We are pursuing a suitable legislative slot for those changes requiring primary legislation. In the meantime, we have begun work on those recommendations which require amendments to secondary legislation and we will also be letting a number of research projects (including one looking at the feasibility of establishing a central database) shortly. New guidance, which will cover all aspects of the Scheme, will be issued when changes have been introduced.
	In taking forward the review, the Department has, and will continue to, work closely with colleagues in the Devolved Administrations. In terms of the new guidance, they will be involved throughout its development.
	Timing for introduction of the changes will be subject to the outcome of the research, consultations and the parliamentary process as appropriate. I am not able at this stage to give a firm timetable, but would reassure the hon. Member that we are firmly committed to introducing the changes at the earliest possible opportunity.
	The administration of the Blue Badge Scheme is the responsibility of local authorities. Under the regulations they can charge up to £2 for each badge they issue to contribute to their administrative costs. The level of the fee is being reconsidered following the recent review of the Scheme.
	Although the Department and the Devolved Administrations currently ask for information as part of their annual Blue Badge statistical survey of local authorities, details do not extend to the funds collected by individual local authorities or their overall administrative costs. Neither does the statistical information include the number of prosecutions for abuse of Blue Badges. There is no legal requirement for local authorities to hold such records or to make them available to the Department.

Lingo-cellulosic Feedstock

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what products would be included in the lingo-cellulosic feedstock materials referred to in the Budget;
	(2)  what production systems he has examined on the production of bioethanol from lingo-cellulosic feedstock materials.

Tony McNulty: Various production techniques are currently being developed which could allow the production of biofuels from diverse feedstocks including wood, straw, grass and municipal green waste. As set out in the Energy White Paper, published in February 2003, the Government are keen to support the development of these technologies because they have the potential to deliver significant carbon savings over conventional transport fuels. My officials are in regular contact with representatives from a number of companies, both in the UK and elsewhere, which are developing these new technologies.

Network Rail

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the statement of the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Mr. Jamieson) of 3 June 2003, Official Report, column 41W, what assurance he has received from Network Rail that it will comply with the consultation and notification arrangements in respect of vegetation management.

Tony McNulty: Network Rail advises that it is currently concluding the implementation of the revised local consultation process set out in the 3 June 2003 adjournment debate.

Railways

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the improvements to railway stations in Wales, broken down by (a) location and (b) cost in each of the last five years; and what the proposed improvements are for the next three years.

Tony McNulty: In September 2002 £2.4 million was provided by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) for the installation of 'Inform Cymru' at 46 stations in Wales; in April 2002 £99,000 for additional car parking spaces, improved security and better passenger facilities at Haverfordwest Station; and £1.1 million for a new waiting room, toilet with disabled access, CCTV and Customer Information Service/PublicAnnouncement (CIS/PA) at Trefforest Station.
	The new Wales & Borders franchise agreement which was signed on 20 October 2003 provides £400,000 for improving car parks, including those at Cardiff Central (Wood Street) and Newport. Under the Vale of Glamorgan scheme the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) is meeting the costs for the building of the two new stations at Rhoose and Llanwit Major. The Vale of Glamorgan line is expected to re-open in December 2004. The Welsh Assembly Government has also set aside £4.5 million for Wales & Borders to improve 47 of their stations before April 2004. The Ebbw Valley scheme, which provides for up to six new stations, is still under consideration by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Railways

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he asked the Strategic Rail Authority to consider how the Great Eastern Main Line capacity can be increased; and what the response was.

Tony McNulty: The Directions and Guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority, first published on 11 April 2002, require it "to develop a policy for the utilisation of network capacity"—a copy is available in the Library of the House. The Strategic Rail Authority has developed a 'Capacity Utilisation Policy' to determine the most efficient use of the existing network. Individual 'Route Utilisation Strategies' (RUS) are being developed which will help inform the need for new services or infrastructure. The SRA plan to consult on the RUS for Greater Anglia in spring 2005.

Vehicle Emissions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many registered vehicles run on hydrogen in the UK.

Tony McNulty: At the present time there are only a small number of prototype/demonstration vehicles running on hydrogen, worldwide. Transport for London will shortly begin demonstration trials of hydrogen fuel cell buses on public bus routes, with financial support from the Government's New Vehicle Technology Fund, as part of a European-wide demonstration programme, Clean Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE). Ford will be carrying out trials of hydrogen fuel cell and internal combustion cars next year.

Vehicle Emissions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many tonnes of (a) fine particulates and (b) ultrafine particulates were emitted into the atmosphere in the UK by the (i) diesel powered vehicle parc, (ii) petrol powered vehicle parc and (iii) road fuel gas vehicle parc in the latest year for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: The following table, based on data from the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, presents emissions of particulate matter by fraction, in kilotonnes, from road transport in 2001.
	
		Emissions of particulate matter by fraction (kilotonne)
		
			   Vehicle type 
			  Particulate fraction Diesel Petrol Roadfuel gas 
		
		
			 Coarse PM10 26.9 3.17 0.02 
			 Fine PM2.5 25.94 3.06 0.02 
			 Ultrafine PM0.1 13.42 1.58 0.01 
			  Vehicle kilometrescovered (billion) 135.4 354.8 1.7 
		
	
	PM10 includes all particles with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10m (likewise PM2.5 includes all particles smaller than 2.5m, and so on), thus the finer particle totals are a subset of the coarser particles.
	Figures for PM2.5, PM1 and PM0.1 are estimated from those for PM10 and the mass fractions in these size ranges available for different emission sources and fuel types. These figures assume the following:
	100,000 LPG vehicles in parc, travelling the same distance per year as passenger cars (industry source);
	emissions from LPG vehicles assumed to be same as average PM factor for petrol vehicles (no PM emissions data available for LPG vehicles); and
	850 HDVs running on CNG (industry source), their emissions of PM being 90 per cent. lower than a Euro II HDV running on diesel.

Vehicle Emissions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he has in place to reduce the emissions of ultrafine particles from the UK vehicle parc.

Tony McNulty: The Government place a high priority on reducing emissions of air pollutants from road transport. Emissions of particles (PM10) from road transport have reduced by some 50 per cent. over the last decade as a result of progressively tighter vehicle and fuel quality standards. Emissions of ultrafine particles from road transport are much harder to measure. The UK has been at the forefront of an international programme to develop appropriate ways of measuring emissions of these small particles. Once this has been completed, the Government will be in a position to take further steps, should the health evidence indicate that this is necessary.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) untaxed and (b) uninsured vehicles he estimates were on UK roads in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: Estimates of unlicensed vehicles in use on the road are obtained through periodic roadside surveys. The results in Great Britain and in Northern Ireland for the years in which surveys were undertaken were:
	
		Thousand
		
			  Great Britain Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 1994 1,559 — 
			 1996–97 — 63 
			 1999 1,522 70 
			 2002 1,757 77 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures for Northern Ireland include vehicles in the private light goods, and the heavy goods vehicle categories. The figures for GB include all licence categories.
	DfT does not have reliable information on the number of vehicles in use on the road without valid insurance.

Road Building

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has issued to the Highways Agency and local authorities to encourage the use of recycled rubber in road building and surfacing.

Tony McNulty: The Code of Practice for Maintenance Management, of which the Department is a co-author, strongly recommends local authorities to maximise the use of products made from recycled materials in order to develop and support local markets for these.
	The Government are actively fostering the development of new applications for tyre crumb in both asphalt and concrete roads, through research by the Universities of Dundee, Liverpool, and Nottingham. Additionally, the Highways Agency is supporting a project monitoring the performance of recycled shredded tyre toppings in French drains.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 13 October; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 13 October; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary represented the United Kingdom at a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on 13 October. No Ministers from the Devolved Administrations or Northern Ireland were present.
	The main items for substantive discussion were on Fisheries, the most important of which was agreement of a proposal for a regulation on the management of fishing effort in Western Waters. As you know this proposal had been on the table for some time but its adoption had been held up while the Presidency struggled to find a compromise acceptable to as many of the key member states as possible—the UK, Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal. In the event the compromise adopted was acceptable to ourselves, France and Portugal but was opposed by Spain and Ireland, with Belgium abstaining.
	The agreed regulation makes provision for an effort-based regime with member states' effort allocations to be based on fishing activity in the reference period 1998–2002. Management zones are to be based on ICES sea areas. This means there is no separate management zone for the Irish Sea as we wished but the Council and Commission have made a joint statement to the effect that fishing effort in previously restricted areas will be closely monitored. In other respects the final outcome is one that offers the UK significant improvements over the text originally tabled last December. These include, in particular:
	the exclusion of under 15 metre vessels from the scope of the regime in all areas except in a special biologically sensitive area off the south west coast of Ireland ("the hake box") where it will apply to all vessels over 10 metres;
	the list of vessels able to fish in Western waters is not restricted to those with a previous history of doing so;
	except for when entering and exiting the hake box, vessels will no longer have to hail in and out on entry and exit from Western waters zones, so substantially reducing industry's compliance costs;
	there are arrangements for adjusting member states' effort allocations to let them take their quotas in full or increase fishing activity on non-quota stocks;
	reduction in the number of fisheries from 5 to 3—demersal, scallops and edible/spider crabs.
	The compromise text on the table therefore represented a very good outcome for the United Kingdom with all our major areas of concern being addressed.
	There was also a brief presentation by the Commission of proposals to manage fishing in the Mediterranean which the Council will return to at a later date.
	On agriculture, there was a brief discussion of the Commission's outline ideas for reform of the cotton and olive oil regimes. Producer member states emphasised the importance of both crops to their farming sectors and the need to maintain a significant level of production-linked aid to ensure continued activity in the sectors. The United Kingdom joined other non-producers in arguing for changes in these regimes to follow closely the pattern of reforms agreed in June for others. In particular, a substantial level of decoupling should be the norm, with the option for more if member states wished to move in that direction.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the steps to be taken to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent. by 2050;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on implementation of the energy policy of cutting emissions of carbon dioxide by 60 per cent. by 2050.

Elliot Morley: The Government has set a domestic goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. The policy framework for delivering this goal is set out in the UK Climate Change programme.
	In the Energy White Paper, we accepted the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's (RCEP) recommendation that the UK should put itself on a path towards a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of some 60 per cent. from current levels by about 2050. The Energy White Paper sets out long-term strategies and shorter-term policies to put us on this path. The Sustainable Energy Policy Network comprising units from Central Government, energy regulators, devolved administrations and key delivery organisations will ensure that these goals and policies are delivered. Part of this is a cross governmental network reporting to a Ministerial Committee co-chaired by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Further details of the implementation plans are set out on SEPN's website http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/index.shtml.
	To put ourselves on course to cut the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent. by 2050, we will need to achieve cuts of around 15–25 million tonnes of carbon (MtC) by 2020 in addition to the carbon savings from existing policies including the Climate Change Programme. The actual measures needed to reach this goal will be shaped by economic and technological developments. However, in reducing carbon dioxide emissions the government's priority is to strengthen renewables and energy efficiency.

Environmental Sustainability

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on environmental sustainability;
	(2)  what measures are in place to protect natural capital sources classed as vital to environmental sustainability

Elliot Morley: The Department's policies on sustainable development and protecting natural resources are set out in the departmental report and in Defra's sustainable development strategy 'Foundations for our Future' and other policy documents on the Defra website.

Fluoridation

Mr. Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has undertaken into the impact of fluoridating water supplies on the aquatic environment; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: A review of the effect of fluoride on a range of aquatic life was carried out for the Environment Agency when deriving a non-statutory environmental quality standard (EQS) for fluoride in water, which was published in 2000. The review drew on research carried out by a range of recognized scientific laboratories and the majority of available data indicated that effects on aquatic life from fluoride occur at concentrations between 9.0—350mg/l.
	Where fluoridation schemes are in place, fluoride is added to maintain a concentration of 1.0 mg/l in drinking water which is well below these levels. Any discharges will be further diluted upon entry to the aquatic environment through the process of collection and treatment of waste water.

Food Labelling

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on introducing labelling of country of origin for each constituent ingredient of pre-cooked food products.

Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	Origin labelling rules are agreed at European Union level. The Government is not aware of any plans to introduce origin labelling rules for each constituent ingredient of food products. The Food Standards Agency is, however, actively pressing for changes to labelling requirements to improve information on origin of fresh and frozen meat and the meat ingredient in food products.

River Cherwell

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the full report entitled, River Cherwell Catchment Monitoring Study 1998–2000 Project Report.

Alun Michael: The River Cherwell Catchment Monitoring Study 1998–2000 Project Report concerns a study undertaken on behalf of Rhone-Poulenc Agriculture to quantify farmyard contamination of surface waters. As the report belongs to Rhone-Poulenc Agriculture (now Bayer CropScience) and has not been published it is not possible to place a copy in the House Library.

Rural Enterprise Scheme

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the budget was for the Rural Enterprise Scheme, broken down by region in each year since the scheme was established;
	(2)  how much money has been paid in grants under the Rural Enterprise Scheme, broken down by region, in each year since the scheme was established.

Margaret Beckett: The following table shows: (i) the original programme budgets, (ii) revised budgets reflecting in-year reallocations in order to maximise the use of the programme funding available, and (iii) grant paid in respect of the Rural Enterprise Scheme for 2001–02 and 2002–03:
	
		£ million
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 
			 Regions/Unit Original budget Revised budget Spend Original budget Revised budget Spend 
		
		
			 North East 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.2 1.0 
			 West Midlands 1.0 0.8 0.6 1.4 2.1 2.0 
			 South West 1.5 1.2 0.2 2.0 2.5 1.9 
			 North West 1.0 0.8 0.3 1.3 1.6 1.3 
			 East Midlands 1.1 0.9 0.4 1.5 2.5 1.7 
			 East of England 1.0 0.7 0.5 1.1 1.7 1.4 
			 Yorks and Humber 1.0 0.7 0.3 1.2 1.8 1.9 
			 South East 0.7 0.6 0.3 1.0 1.7 1.6 
			 National 0.2 0.1 0 1.8 0.5 0.2 
			 Total 8.0 6.2 2.8 12.0 15.6 13.0

Rural Enterprise Scheme

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the running costs were of the Rural Enterprise Scheme, broken down by region, in each year since the scheme was established (a) in cash terms and (b) as a percentage of the scheme's budget.

Margaret Beckett: The Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES) is delivered by Defra's Rural Development Service (RDS), but running costs are not available broken down by both scheme and region. In 2001–02 many RDS operational staff made a substantial contribution to work related to the foot and mouth disease outbreak and were not employed on their normal duties for much of the year. In consequence, it is not possible to provide an accurate figure for RES running costs in 2001–02.
	In 2002–03 RES accounted for 75.7 staff years of RDS effort at a total estimated cost of £2.6 million. RDS running costs are not funded from RES programme expenditure, however £2.6 million expressed as a percentage of the final RES budget for 2002–03 is 16.7 per cent. It is important to note that 2002–03 running cost expenditure relates not just to the in-year budget, but also to the assessment and approval of projects which will incur expenditure in subsequent years; forward funding commitments at the end of 2002–03 amounted to £15.4 million.

Solar Power

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what grants are available to (a) public landlords and (b) owner-occupiers to install solar power in housing; and how many properties in Leeds have received such assistance.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	There are two Government schemes supporting the installation of solar panels in houses. The first is the £20 million First Phase of the Major Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme (PV MDP). 50 per cent. grants are available to individual householders for small PV systems, and 60 per cent. to public bodies, including social housing groups, for medium-large scale installations. The second is the £10 million Clear Skies initiative, which offers flat rate grants of around £500 to individuals wishing to install solar water heating panels, and grants of up to 50 per cent. to community groups.
	So far, under the PV programme, one householder in Leeds has received a grant and two applications for medium—large scale installations have been approved. They are for Park Lane College and the Ridings Housing Association.
	Under Clear Skies, no applications have been received from public landlords in Leeds for solar water heating on housing, although two grants have been awarded for solar on community buildings. For individual households, three have received assistance.
	For more information on these schemes please see: www.solarpvgrants.co.uk and www.clear-skies.org

Soya Milk

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what basis soya milk was withdrawn as an undesirable food for babies and young children; and on what basis it was recommended for premature babies.

Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	Soya milk drinks and soya based infant formulas have not been withdrawn and are still available. The Department's advice is that soya-based infant formula should only be given on the advice of a doctor or health visitor and can be prescribed for babies allergic to cow's milk. It is not recommended for premature babies.

Waste Management

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to introduce new charging arrangements to finance the Environment Agency's work in the current financial year and afterwards on (a) implementation of the Water Framework Directive, (b) development of the Revised Bathing Waters Directive, (c) regulation of the spreading of sewage sludge on agricultural land, (d) the reduction of agricultural waste and mines and quarries waste and (e) exemption from Waste Management Licensing.

Margaret Beckett: The charging arrangements are as follows:
	(a) Implementation of the Water Framework Directive
	The Environment Agency's costs of implementing the Water Framework Directive during the current financial year are funded by a combination of grant in aid and income from charges for consents for discharges to controlled waters and for water abstraction licences. Similar arrangements will apply during the implementation of the Directive.
	(b) Revised Bathing Waters Directive
	During the annual review of the Environment Agency's charges, an assessment will be made, both for the current and future financial years, as to whether extra charges for effluent discharges will be needed to fund development of the Revised Bathing Waters Directive.
	(c) The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989
	These regulations are currently being revised. The revised draft regulations on the spreading of sewage sludge on agricultural land provide for the Environment Agency to recover its regulatory costs through charges and as part of these regulations a new charging scheme is being developed to take effect on implementation of the revised regulations which is expected in 2004. (d) Reduction of Agricultural and Mines and Quarries Waste
	The regulations applying to the Waste Framework Directive's controls to agricultural and non-mineral mines and quarries waste are currently being drafted and will be issued for public consultation. The Environment Agency's Waste Management Licensing Charging Scheme will apply to the recovery or disposal of these types of waste under a licence as it currently applies to other types of waste. We do not propose to apply charges to the recovery or disposal of agricultural waste under a registered licensing exemption. Regulations will be in place by mid 2004.
	(e) Exemption from Waste Management Licensing
	Draft Regulations to implement the review of the exemptions in Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 provide for the Environment Agency to extend charging to six existing exemptions and one new exemption for the burning of dunnage at the dockside. The existing exemptions affected are:
	land treatment
	use of waste for land reclamation
	use and storage of building waste composting
	storage and spreading of sewage sludge
	waste recovery at sewage treatment works.
	It is intended that charges should be incorporated into the Agency's Waste Management Licensing Charging Scheme to take effect on the Regulations' implementation. The draft Regulations were issued for public consultation on 19 June with a view to being implemented early in 2004.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Analogue Transmission

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to assist those receiving television through communal systems when the analogue system of transmission ends; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: We recognise the importance of those living in multi-occupancy dwellings being able to access digital television services. The Digital TV Project Team is looking at how digital equipment will operate in such dwellings and how best to promote digital television among landlords responsible for communal systems. We will consider whether any specific measures are needed in this area before switchover begins. We have published an information leaflet aimed at encouraging landlords to take up digital television. A copy can be found on the website: www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk.

New Opportunities Fund

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much capital the New Opportunities Fund has directed to (a) Birkenhead, (b) Wirral and (c) Merseyside since its inception.

Richard Caborn: According to information supplied by distributors for the Department's Lottery Awards Database, the New Opportunities Fund has awarded £3,744,140 to the Birkenhead constituency, £16,536,709 to the Wirral Local Authority area and £62,371,292 to Merseyside.

Youth Development (Football)

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her Answer on 28 April 2003, Official Report, column 188W, on Youth Development (Football), when the Government will begin to contribute the money that has been committed to the Football League's Youth Development Scheme.

Richard Caborn: All of the clubs in the Football League's Youth Development Scheme have already received the first quarter payment for the new football season 2003–04. All the funding partners have agreed in principle to funding the scheme until 2005–06 and we are currently discussing the details with the funding partners.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Fertilisers

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of competition in the manufacture and supply of fertilisers.

Jacqui Smith: The Department of Trade and Industry has not looked at this issue.

British Trade Promotions

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the cost of promoting British branding and identity overseas in the last year for which figures are available; and what element of this expenditure promotes (a) Welsh, (b) Scottish and (c) Irish branding and identity as a distinct component of that of the United Kingdom as a whole.

Mike O'Brien: British Trade International, through the activity of Invest.UK and Trade Partners UK, contributes circa £900,000 towards the promotion of the branding and identity of the United Kingdom as a whole.
	The Devolved Administrations and the Regional Development Agencies have their own budgets for overseas promotion.

Construction Industry

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much Quality Mark work was taken up by the construction industry in each year since its introduction.

Nigel Griffiths: The total declared turnover for Quality Mark warranty purposes in 2002 was £17 million. In 2003 the declared turnover has been approximately £21.5million up to the present time. The value of work undertaken through affiliating scheme members is not yet available.

Electricity

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what level of installed electricity generation capacity above (a) average demand and (b) peak demand was available in 2002–03; and what level she expects will be (i) available and (ii) available but mothballed in (A) 2003–04, (B) 2004–05 and (C) 2005–06.

Stephen Timms: In the winter of 2002–03, installed generating capacity for England and Wales was 67.6 GW. Actual peak demand was 54.8 GW and adjusting this to average cold spell (ACS) weather conditions and adding back estimated voluntary demand reduction at peak, gives a figure of 55.1 GW. Peak demand under average winter weather is reckoned by National Grid Company (NGC) to be about 96 per cent. of peak demand under ACS conditions.
	In the July 2003 Update to their Seven Year Statement, NGC published the following projections for ACS demand and installed capacity:
	
		
			  GW 
			  ACS demand Installed capacity 
		
		
			 2003–04 55.9 65.1 
			 2004–05 56.8 66.9 to 67.2 
			 2005–06 57.7 67.7 to 68.9 
		
	
	The range of projections shown for installed capacity reflects the extent to which plant not yet under construction comes forward. The projections for installed capacity do not allow for any plant closures not yet announced, for return of currently mothballed plant, or for new generating capacity yet to enter transmission contracts with NGC.
	PowerGen announced on 19 August 2003 its intention to return a 650 MW unit at Grain to service for the coming winter. It also announced on 15 October 2003 that it had started work that could bring a further 650 MW unit at Grain back for this winter. On 16 October 2003, International Power announced its intention to return a 250 MW unit at Deeside to service from 20 October 2003. NGC will take these announcements into account for the October 2003 Update to the Seven Year Statement, due to be released later this month.
	Further information on the prospects for gas and electricity security for the coming winter, and on the outturn for last winter, can be found in the "Winter Operations Report", issued by National Grid Transco (NGT) on 14 October 2003, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. That report estimated that there is some 4.2 GW of mothballed generating capacity capable of returning to service within 24 months or less, of which 0.8GW could be returned in less than three months. However, the report does not take account of the announcements of 15 and 16 October 2003 referred to above.
	All figures for installed capacity include the full capacity of the interconnectors with France and Scotland.
	NGC consider ACS conditions as a level of demand that has a 50 per cent. probability of occurring within any winter. Since 1990, actual peak demand has never exceeded ACS corrected peak demand, although this may be due in part to voluntary demand reduction at peak periods.
	The NGC Seven Year Statement, and updates to it, can be found at: www.nationalgrid.com/uk/library/documents/sys 03/dcfault.asp

Fireworks

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with (a) representatives of the fireworks industry, (b) local authorities and (c) police representatives since the passing of the Fireworks Act 2003;
	(2)  what plans she has to make use of her powers under the Fireworks Act 2003.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department is committed to implementing and ensuring proper enforcement of the Fireworks Act 2003. We hope to implement those parts of the Act dealing with anti-social issues before Christmas. Discussions have taken place with the fireworks industry with regard to enshrining the voluntary air bombs ban in legislation under the Act.
	Discussions have also taken place with local authorities and police representatives on the creation of a curfew for the use of fireworks between the hours of 11pm and 7am and creating an offence for possession of fireworks by those under 18 years of age respectively.
	The Act's other principal provisions—setting a maximum noise limit for fireworks, licensing of suppliers, rules for public firework displays, importation of fireworks and training of display operators—require more detailed consultation with all the interested parties. We will start implementation of this part of the Act in the new year.

HSE Inspectors

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether bonus arrangements for Health and Safety Executive inspectors include a target to reach a certain number of prosecutions per year.

Des Browne: I have been asked to reply.
	Health and Safety inspectors are not paid bonuses for achieving target numbers of prosecutions in any year.

Imports (Asia)

Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value was of goods imported from (a) the People's Republic of China, (b) India and (c) Japan into the (i) United Kingdom and (ii) European Union in the last year for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: According to figures published by Eurostat, UK and European Union imports of goods from the People's Republic of China, India and Japan in 2002 were as follows.
	
		UK and EU imports of goods from China, India and Japan, 2002 -- £ million (current prices)
		
			  UK EU 
		
		
			 China 10,539 51,196 
			 India 1,845 8,175 
			 Japan 8,339 42,876

Industrial Tribunals

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial tribunal cases have been brought in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Statistics on the number of Employment Tribunal applications are collated on a financial year basis.
	
		Employment Tribunal applications for Great Britain
		
			 Financial year Number of registered applications 
		
		
			 1996–97 88,910 
			 1997–98 80,435 
			 1998–99 91,913 
			 1999–2000 103,935 
			 2000–01 130,408 
			 2001–02 112,227 
			 2002–03 98,617 
		
	
	Source:
	Employment Tribunals Service annual reports and accounts

Knowledge Economy

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken to implement recommendation 15 of the Cross-Cutting Review of the Knowledge Economy published in December 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to her by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary on 15 October 2003, Official Report, column 282W.

Manufacturing

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investment has been made in research and development in manufacturing in the UK since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The Office for National Statistics Business Enterprise Research and Development survey provides the following data on research and development in manufacturing in the UK since 1997:
	
		Expenditure on research and development performed in UK businesses in the manufacturing sector, 1997–2001  -- £ million
		
			  Cash terms Real terms (2001 prices) 
		
		
			 1997 7,608 8,360 
			 1998 8,142 8,707 
			 1999 8,995 9,392 
			 2000 9,231 9,429 
			 2001 10,040 10,040

Manufacturing

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her plans for supporting manufacturing.

Jacqui Smith: The Government's Manufacturing Strategy published in May last year, identified seven key areas of activity for Government and industry that are crucial for manufacturing success. We are taking action in all of those areas to support UK manufacturers.
	For example, the Manufacturing Advisory Service has been a real success as a major source of advice and support for small and medium sized manufacturers. Since it launched in April 2002, the Manufacturing Advisory Service has handled over 17,000 inquiries from manufacturing companies and has carried out over 3,000 diagnostic and advisory visits. Over 1,000 firms have benefited from in-depth consultancies to help them improve their productivity. The total value added benefit to firms helped by the Manufacturing Advisory Service is £18 million.

Manufacturing

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate her Department has made of the supply of manufacturing labourers throughout the United Kingdom.

Jacqui Smith: Official statistical sources, such as the Labour Force Survey and Employers Surveys, do not provide estimates of the supply of manufacturing labourers.
	There were 3.7 million workforce jobs in the manufacturing industry in the UK in June 2003.

Mine Shafts (Householders' Insurance)

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the proposed insurance scheme and related matters for householders whose properties are affected by mine shafts.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 21 October 2003
	At the end of last month, the Coal Authority launched an initiative to provide alongside every residential mining report it produces, insurance cover which will mitigate against any loss of property value, up to a maximum of £20,000, attributable to any material change of the mining information revealed in any subsequent mining report on the same property. At the same time the Authority introduced an interpretive mining report service which will provide more detailed analysis and advice about mine entries including a risk assessment as to whether, in the expert opinion of the Coal Authority, the main building of a property is inside or outside the possible zone of ground movement from any reported mine entry.
	The Coal Authority has developed these services under the auspices of the Department's Mineshafts Working Group, established last year to explore initiatives which might ameliorate the blighting effect which the proximity of historic coal mineshafts is perceived to have on certain properties, particularly in the West Midlands. The Coal Authority is also investigating the scope for development of non-invasive detection techniques capable of locating mining features in built-up environments. The Authority continues to work closely with property practitioners at a local level with a view to raising awareness of the very low statistical risk which historic mineshafts represent.

Mobile Phone Companies

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether mobile telephone companies are categorised as statutory undertakers using the same criteria as apply to electricity and gas companies.

Stephen Timms: 'Statutory undertaker' is a concept found in a wide range of legislation across different sectors. In the electronic communications sector, a person or undertaking (such as a mobile telephone company) is not likely to satisfy any definition of 'statutory undertaker' unless they have had the electronic communications code applied to them by a direction by Ofcom pursuant to section 106 of the Communications Act 2003. The electronic communications code gives certain powers to operators vis-a-vis the installation of apparatus. The criteria which Ofcom must consider in deciding whether or not to apply the electronic communications code to a person or undertaking are set out in section 107(4) of the Communications Act 2003. The position in the gas and electricity sectors is different, as gas and electricity still have a licensing-based regime, whereas electronic communications does not.

National Investment Bank

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will establish a national investment bank to oversee industrial development and assist growth industries.

Jacqui Smith: I have no such plans. A range of facilities are offered by Government, the devolved Administrations and Regional Development Agencies to assist businesses reach their full growth potential.

Norwich Airport

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to assess the sale of Norwich airport for value for money.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 14 October 2003
	I have been asked to reply.
	The Government do not plan to assess the sale of Norwich airport. It is the duty of the Directors to act in the best interest of the company, and thereby in the best interest of the shareholding authorities. Moreover, the sale would be subject to scrutiny by the District Auditor.

Post Office Card Accounts

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what activity her Department is undertaking to publicise the Post Office card account.

Stephen Timms: None. The promotion of Post Office products and services is a matter for the company. Post Office Ltd. is providing information to customers and guidance to sub-postmasters on the range of banking options available at post offices, including the Post Office card account.

Post Office Card Accounts

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of customers opening Post Office card accounts on the viability of sub-post offices.

Stephen Timms: The number of customers who will eventually choose to open a Post Office card account is difficult to predict, at this stage. However, the Post Office card account is only one of a range of banking options available at post offices. All the major high street banks are providing access to a basic bank account through post offices. In addition, the Alliance and Leicester, Barclays and Lloyds/TSB are providing electronic access at post offices to all their current accounts—some 20 million accounts in total. The Post Office also provides cheque based banking services for customers of the Cooperative bank and the internet banks, Smile and Cahoot. The Post Office is in discussion with the banks to modernise these services and to extend commercial arrangements to cover other financial institutions. Universal banking services, together with the Post Office's plans for an expansion of commercial banking arrangements, should lead to an increase in the number of people using post offices to do banking transactions. Wider access to bank accounts at post offices opens up a very much larger market than benefit recipients alone, and this should benefit sub-postmasters both directly and through increased footfall.

Post Office Closures

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many proposed post office closures under the Urban Reinvention Programme have been reversed following public consultation.

Stephen Timms: Decisions on post office closure proposals under the urban reinvention programme following public consultation are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Unsolicited E-mail

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to protect British businesses from unsolicited e-mails; and if she will include measures to protect businesses when the relevant EC Directive is implemented later this year.

Stephen Timms: The EU Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications has been implemented in the UK by the Privacy-and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No 2426), which come into force on 11 December this year. The Regulations will introduce opt-in consent requirements for unsolicited e-mail marketing to individual subscribers, including sole traders and some partnerships. The Government decided not to extend the opt-in consent right to corporate subscribers (including limited companies) because of concerns about the impact on business to business marketing, but the Government's response to consultation on the new rules has made it clear that we are prepared to review this in the light of working experience of the new rules.
	Subscribers of all kinds will benefit from a requirement in the Regulations not to send commercial e-mail which disguises or conceals the identity of the person on whose behalf it is sent, or does not provide a valid address to which a request that communications cease may be sent.

Tariffs

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 16 June 2003, Official Report, column 50W, on trade tariffs, what strategic controls are placed on British exports to non-EU countries.

Nigel Griffiths: The Strategic controls that are routinely placed on British exports to non-EU countries are set out in:
	1. The Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended.
	2. Council Regulation (EC) No. 1334/2000, as amended.
	3. The Dual Use Items (Export Control) Regulations 2000, as amended.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Goods Directive

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the likely effects of the introduction of the WEEE Directive on small retailers; what estimate she has made of the number that are likely to be put out of business because of the Directive; and how many retailers have contacted her Department to express their concern.

Stephen Timms: The Government are concerned to implement the WEEE Directive with a light regulatory touch, consistent with achieving its environmental goals. We would not expect small retailers to be put out of business because of this Directive.
	The Government consulted widely on this Directive earlier this year following its entry into force and received responses from a range of organisations and individuals, including 54 retailers or their representative organisations.
	The UK successfully negotiated flexibility in the Directive's provisions on retail takeback and the Government are now considering how to take advantage of this in its implementation. In this context, it is in discussions with retailers, including the British Retail Consortium.
	The Government intends to publish its proposals for implementation of the Directive, including retail take-back, later this autumn for consultation. After this, it will issue draft implementing Regulations for consultation next spring.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to increase UK military support for the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Mazar-e-Sharif and the five surrounding provinces in Afghanistan consequent to United Nations Resolution 1510.

Adam Ingram: I anticipate the UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team based in Mazar-e Sharif will increase slightly in size by the end of the year. This expansion is part of the planned evolution of the Provincial Reconstruction Team and is coincidental to UNSCR 1510.

Afghanistan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rounds of depleted uranium ammunitions have been fired in Afghanistan by UK troops; how many rounds of depleted uranium ammunition have been recovered during UK-led clean-up operations; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Depleted uranium (DU) ammunition has not been used by Allied Forces in recent operations in Afghanistan and hence there has been no need for clean-up. I do not have information on its use by other nations or forces in past conflicts in Afghanistan.

Military Deaths

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the statement made by Surrey Police on the conclusion of their investigations and his Answer of 16 September 2003, Official Report, column 705W, on Deepcut and Catterick barracks, if he will order an independent public inquiry into the way that unnatural deaths at Catterick and Deepcut barracks have been investigated; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Responsibility for investigating unnatural deaths at army barracks lies with the appropriate civil police authorities. The Surrey Police have suggested, in the context of their investigation of deaths at Deepcut, that a broader inquiry into army deaths may be warranted. Her Majesty's Coroner has yet to complete his work in relation to the Deepcut deaths and the Surrey Police have yet to produce their final overarching report. The case for a public inquiry will need to be considered in the light of these events and other studies already completed.

Defence Fire Service

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed in his Department's fire service.

Adam Ingram: Within the Ministry of Defence there are currently around 2,370 military and civilian personnel employed in fire fighting and related duties in both the UK and overseas. Precise details of current day-to-day manning levels are not held centrally as personnel below the officer grades in the civilian defence fire service are locally recruited.

Gulf War Syndrome

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence to Lord Morris of Manchester of 9 October, on vaccines used for UK troops deployed in the 1990–91 Gulf War; and what steps he is taking to prevent recurrence of the problems identified.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 20 October 2003
	The text of the letter (reference: D/MIN(DP)/WB/13/1/2/3) was published in the House of Lords on 9 October 2003, Official Report, columns WA 67–79. A copy of the letter was placed in the Library of this House on 10 October.
	Subsequent analysis of the 1990–91 Gulf Conflict revealed shortcomings at the time in medical record keeping and medical preparedness. In October 2001 the Ministry of Defence published the paper: "Medical Records in the Gulf" which explained how the Service medical documentation system was used during that conflict and the generic reasons why a medical record may no longer exist. The paper is available on the internet at: http://www.mod.ukyissues/gulfwar/info/m
	Since that conflict, we have made significant improvements in medical record keeping through the introduction of a new operational medical record. This does ensure that health events while on deployment are more systematically recorded than in the past. Care is taken to ensure that accurate records are maintained by recording all vaccinations on individuals' medical records. Further improvements in medical record keeping will be achieved over the next few years with the progressive introduction of new information technology systems. A number of personnel were not up to date with their Service standard vaccinations. Our policy guidance has been modified to ensure that all troops are now immunised routinely. In June 2002, we announced that our Voluntary Immunisation Programme against anthrax would be expanded, in phases, to the whole of the Armed Forces, including reserves and those essential civilians who were likely to deploy on operations, beginning with those units that were held at the highest readiness. This takes account of lessons identified post the 1990–91 Gulf Conflict.

Hutton Inquiry

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  for what reason he authorised the creation of an environment intended to simulate that of hearings of the Hutton Inquiry at the Civil Service College at Sunningdale; on what date the authorisation was given; and what the cost of the exercise was;
	(2)  how many officials who appeared at the Hutton Inquiry were given coaching and training prior to their public appearance; and at what cost.

Geoff Hoon: I did not authorise the creation of any facility, at Sunningdale or elsewhere, to simulate the hearings of the Hutton Inquiry, and no Ministry of Defence officials were given coaching or training prior to their giving evidence to the Inquiry.

Manning Control Points

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason no soldiers have been discharged following manning control reviews in the last 17 months; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy (Dr. Moonie) gave on 5 June 2003, Official Report, columns 507–08W.

Manning Control Points

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all soldiers subject to discharge at their manning control point have been shown their AFB130A (Application for Discharge) and allowed to appeal against the Commanding Officer's decision before the soldier's discharge is approved by the army; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Soldiers who have been recommended for discharge under Queen's Regulations for the Army 1975 Para 9.413, 'Not Required for a Full Army Career', are shown their Army Form B130A and are given an opportunity to appeal against the recommendation.

Mr. Terry Jeans

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make an exception to the next-of-kin rule to facilitate the attendance of Mr.Terry Jeans at the trial in Croatia of the people alleged to have murdered his son.

Ivor Caplin: In July 2002 public funds were exceptionally made available to enable Mr. Jeans to be present at the trial of those accused of killing his son. It was made clear to Mr. Jeans at that time that this action constituted a one-off payment for a final trip to Croatia which in no way constituted a precedent. It was also made clear to Mr. Jeans that the Ministry of Defence could not envisage making any further public funds available to support him. This remains the position.

Official Travel

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many official overseas visits each Minister in the Ministry of Defence has made in each year since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: A list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year since 1997 is available in the Libraries of the House. The lists provide details of the dates, destinations and purposes of all such visits and the costs of Ministers' travel and accommodation where appropriate.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16 July 2003, Official Report, columns 327–28, to my hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Plaskitt).

Service Families (Voting Arrangements)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place to allow families of Scottish soldiers stationed outwith Scotland to vote in Scottish elections; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: It is the individual responsibility of each member of the Armed Forces and their family to register to vote annually. Scottish service personnel outwith Scotland, and their spouses, can choose to register as service voters by means of a service declaration, but they can then only vote by proxy. Those, including eligible children, who choose to register on their local electoral register will be able to vote either by post or proxy if they are overseas or away from Scotland during any election, provided they have registered to vote in Scotland. Every effort is made by ships, units, and stations to give reasonable assistance to personnel overseas to register or vote in line with their individual electoral registration choice.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

School Exclusions

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make it his policy to permit schools in England and Wales to receive (a) financial and (b) legal support from their local education authority in dealing with legal action taken against the school by outside parties in respect of fixed-term exclusions.

David Miliband: There is existing provision with the regulations governing school funding for schools to receive contingency financial assistance from their local education authority if the costs of legal action, or amounts awarded by a court, cannot be met from a school's budget share without damaging pupils' education. Legal support may be purchased by a school either from the authority under a service level agreement or from an independent source.

A-Level Grades

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils in England achieved A-levels in (a) mathematics and (b) English achieved grades A or above in (i) the best performing local education authority and (ii) the worst performing local education authority in 2002–03.

David Miliband: The information requested is given in the following tables:
	
		Mathematics
		
			 Percentage of A level passesin mathematics that were grade Ain 2003 Localeducationauthority Percentage 
		
		
			 Highest percentage Reading 61.0 
			 Lowest percentage Portsmouth 8.0 
		
	
	
		English
		
			 Percentage of A level passes inEnglish that were grade A in 2003 Localeducationauthority Percentage 
		
		
			 Highest percentage Reading 34.0 
			 Lowest percentage Hackney 3.2

Careers Services

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on arrangements for (a) delivering of services, (b) funding and (c) professional validation and development of careers services operated by higher education institutions, with particular reference to their relationship with other careers and guidance services.

Alan Johnson: Career guidance services in higher education are diverse and varied. There is no statutory obligation for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to provide careers advice and guidance. However, most HEIs have established their own dedicated careers service. Some use other means, for example through academic departments or other student services; others use a combination of both approaches.
	Higher Education Careers Services are funded by HEIs themselves. Each institution makes its own decisions about the level of funding it allocates to careers and other services from its overall funding allocation, according to its individual circumstances.
	The 2001 report 'Developing Modern Higher Education Careers Services', published following a review commissioned by my Department, included the recommendations that universities should place increased emphasis upon:
	(a) defining core services that every Careers Service should provide
	(b) considering their policies towards their Careers Services in relation to their Operational Plan
	(c) reviewing their funding distribution to ensure they are able to deliver the core careers services
	(d) ensuring their careers service staff are appropriately trained and qualified.
	The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS), in conjunction with the University of Reading, offers a range of tailored professional qualifications. AGCAS now sets a condition that members must have achieved or be working towards the matrix standard, which is the national quality standard for any organisation delivering information, advice and guidance services on learning and work. In addition the Higher Education Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) has developed a voluntary code of practice for careers education, information and guidance in higher education. The majority of HE Careers Services are members of local Information Advice and Guidance partnerships which are funded by the Learning and Skills Council and which ensure coherence of all adult careers services in their local areas.

Criminal Records Bureau

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many employees in the education service require CRB checks; what the total cost of those checks is; and who pays for them.

David Miliband: All new employees in the education service who have regular contact with children require a CRB check on appointment and some staff need to be checked when they move between posts. Fees for CRB checks are set at 24 for a Standard Disclosure and 29 for an Enhanced Disclosure. Disclosures for volunteers are free of charge. I am not able to provide information on numbers of employees or the total costs involved as my Department does not hold this information. The cost of Disclosures falls to individuals, but some employers may decide to pay the fee on their behalf.

Faith Schools

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) both primary and secondary schools that select some or all of their pupils on the basis of faith have (i) opened and (ii) closed in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority.

David Miliband: The following tables show the number of primary and secondary maintained schools, designated as having a religious character, which have opened and closed in each year since 1997, listed by LEA area. These schools are permitted to give priority to pupils of their faith or denomination, if over subscribed, but the Department does not maintain records of those that do so.
	
		1997
		
			  Openings (i) Closures (ii) 
			 Local education authority Primary (a) Secondary (b) Total (c) Primary (a) Secondary (b) Total (c) 
		
		
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Liverpool 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Middlesbrough 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Oxfordshire 0 0 0 2 0 2 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			
			 Total 1 0 1 5 0 5 
		
	
	
		1998
		
			  Openings (i) Closures (ii) 
			 Local education authority Primary (a) Secondary (b) Total (c) Primary (a) Secondary (b) Total (c) 
		
		
			 Birmingham 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Camden 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Essex 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Hampshire 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Harrow 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Kent 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Liverpool 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Manchester 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Salford 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Wigan 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			
			 Total 1 0 1 6 3 9 
		
	
	
		1999
		
			  Openings (i) Closures (ii) 
			 Local education authority Primary (a) Secondary (b) Total (c) Primary (a) Secondary (b) Total (c) 
		
		
			 Bradford 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Cambridgeshire 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Cumbria 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Hertfordshire 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire 0 0 0 2 0 2 
			 Manchester 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Medway 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Redbridge 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 South Gloucestershire 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 St. Helens 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Sunderland 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			
			 Total 5 0 5 7 0 7 
		
	
	
		2000
		
			  Openings (i) Closures (ii) 
			 Local education authority Primary (a) Secondary (b) Total (c) Primary (a) Secondary (b) Total (c) 
		
		
			 Croydon 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire 0 0 0 2 0 2 
			 Leicestershire 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 North Yorkshire 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Suffolk 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			
			 Total 3 0 3 4 1 5 
		
	
	
		2001
		
			  Openings (i) Closures (ii) 
			 Local education authority Primary (a) Secondary (b) Total (c) Primary (a) Secondary (b) Total (c) 
		
		
			 Birmingham 0 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Bradford 0 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Dorset 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 East Sussex 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Manchester 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 0 1 1 0 0 0 
			 West Sussex 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			
			 Total 4 4 8 1 0 1 
		
	
	
		2002
		
			  Openings (i) Closures (ii) 
			 Local education authority Primary (a) Secondary (b) Total (c) Primary (a) Secondary (b) Total (c) 
		
		
			 Birmingham 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Herefordshire 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Knowsley 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Middlesbrough 0 0 0 1 1 2 
			 Oxfordshire 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Shropshire 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 St Helens 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Sunderland 0 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Warrington 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Wirral 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			
			 Total 1 1 2 7 3 10 
		
	
	
		2003
		
			  Openings (i) Closures (ii) 
			 Local education authority Primary (a) Secondary (b) Total (c) Primary (a) Secondary (b) Total (c) 
		
		
			 Bury 0 0 0 2 0 2 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Hertfordshire 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Northamptonshire 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Northumberland 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 1 1 2 0 0 0 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Wandsworth 0 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Worcestershire 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			
			 Total (1) 1 2 3 8 0 8 
		
	
	(1) To 13 October 2003
	The tables exclude schools that opened or closed as a result of amalgamations, mergers or reorganisations, and also former community schools that closed and re-opened with a religious character.

GCSE Grades

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils in England achieved GCSEs in (a) mathematics and (b) English and (c) both achieved grades A or above in (i) the best performing local education authority and (ii) the worst performing local education authority in 2002–03.

David Miliband: The percentage of pupils achieving grade A* or A at GCSE in (a) Mathematics and (b) English and (c) both in the highest and lowest performing LEAs are shown in the following tables.
	
		English
		
			 Percentage of pupilsachieving grade A or abovein GCSE English in 2003 Local educationauthority Percentage 
		
		
			 i) Highest percentage Sutton 32.1 
			 ii) Lowest percentage Isles of Scilly 0.0 
		
	
	
		Maths
		
			 Percentage of pupilsachieving grade A or abovein GCSE Maths in 2003 Local educationauthority Percentage 
		
		
			 i) Highest percentage Sutton 28.5 
			 ii) Lowest percentage Isles of Scilly 0.0 
		
	
	
		English and Maths
		
			 Percentage of pupils achievinggrade A or above in GCSEEnglish and Maths in 2003 Local educationauthority Percentage 
		
		
			 i) Highest percentage Sutton 21.6 
			 ii) Lowest percentage Isles of Scilly 0.0

Grant-maintained Schools

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many former grant-maintained schools have gained (a) specialist, (b) beacon and (c) city academy status in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority.

David Miliband: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

School Transport

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received on proposals by Essex Local Education Authority to charge travel costs for pupils attending faith schools; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: I have received representations from people objecting to Essex LEA's proposals to charge for home-to-school transport where children attend a denominational school in preference to the local school designated by their LEA. The policy issue is one for the LEA, but several correspondents have raised concerns about the way in which the consultation was carried out. My officials have requested information from the LEA to find out whether the consultation has been conducted in accordance with our regulations.

Science Education

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils (a) up to the age of 16 years, (b) up to the age of 18 years and (c) beyond the age of 18 years were studying sciences in each year since 1 January 1996.

David Miliband: holding answer 21 October 2003
	The answers to parts (a), (b) and (c) are as follows:
	Part (a)
	The number of entries in GCSE science subjects by 15-year-old pupils in all schools in England since 1995/96 are:
	
		
			  1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 
		
		
			 Biological Sciences 37,576 36,641 38,890 38,785 39,376 40,455 40,526 42,608 
			 Chemistry 36,279 35,154 36,544 37,640 37,699 38,797 39,067 40,854 
			 Physics 35,727 34,541 36,205 37,205 37,532 38,455 38,640 40,051 
			 Single Award Science 62,844 54,631 52,383 50,182 48,565 49,886 51,662 52,998 
			 Double Award Science 434,946 439,480 431,348 441,897 445,100 464,389 466,469 473,966 
			 Other Science 5,344 4,881 3,826 3,423 3,106 2,977 2,785 2,742 
			 Total Science 612,716 605,328 599,196 609,132 611,378 634,959 639,149 653,219 
		
	
	Part (b)
	The number of entries in advanced level science subjects by 16 and 17-year-old students in all schools and FE colleges in England since 1995/96 are:
	
		
			  1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 
		
		
			 GCE A level 
			 Biology 37,905 42,144 43,405 41,723 41,204 40,250 41,448 39,810 
			 Chemistry 30,589 32,295 32,922 31,670 31,407 30,422 29,298 27,839 
			 Physics 25,541 26,192 27,004 26,849 25,548 25,557 25,601 23,868 
			 Other Science 4,456 5,612 5,902 5,694 5,795 5,740 6,950 8,012 
			 Total Science 98,491 106,243 109,233 105,936 103,954 101,969 103,297 99,529 
			  
			  GCE Advanced Supplementary level 
			 Biology 2,314 2,518 2,524 2,688 2,774 1,483 — — 
			 Chemistry 1,008 1,205 1,241 1,155 1,180 781 — — 
			 Physics 1,534 1,808 1,758 1,727 1,614 750 — — 
			 Other Science 1,839 1,995 1,995 1,859 1,961 501 — — 
			 Total Science 6,695 7,526 7,518 7,429 7,529 3,515 — — 
			  
			 GCE Advanced Subsidiary level 
			 Biology — — — — — 49,868 51,698 53,840 
			 Chemistry — — — — — 34,048 35,145 36,745 
			 Physics — — — — — 29,545 30,393 29,401 
			 Other Science — — — — — 6,353 13,739 14,206 
			 Total Science — — — — — 119,814 130,975 134,192 
			  
			 VCE A level 
			 Science — — — — — 195 385 352 
			 VCE Double Award 
			 Science — — — — — 11 564 520 
			  
			 AGNVQ 
			 Science — — 515 609 692 624 — — 
		
	
	Part (c)
	The number of UK domiciles at English higher education and further education institutions, aged 18 or over studying science subjects in 1995/96 to 2001/02 are:
	
		
			  1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 
			 Subject Group Post Graduate Under Graduate Post Graduate Under Graduate Post Graduate Under Graduate Post Graduate Under Graduate 
		
		
			 HE in HE institutions 
			 Medicine and dentistry 6,216 17,971 7,076 19,115 7,227 19,529 7,408 19,832 
			 Subjects allied to medicine 10,067 84,869 11,051 106,280 12,151 112,528 13,610 126,266 
			 Biological sciences 8,678 40,805 9,677 45,676 9,791 49,961 10,207 50,606 
			 Veterinary science 238 1,470 306 1,496 252 1,595 255 1,691 
			 Agriculture and related subjects 786 8,671 807 8,643 896 8,755 969 8,854 
			 Physical sciences 9,769 43,471 9,790 43,061 8,941 41,584 8,719 41,167 
			 Mathematical sciences 2,210 11,783 2,050 12,050 1,845 12,487 1,666 12,757 
			 Computer science 6,601 45,666 7,036 48,228 7,480 50,590 8,398 54,727 
			 Engineering and technology 12,565 74,939 12,270 68,939 12,281 65,384 12,468 63,464 
			 Architecture, building and planning 6,564 27,197 7,210 24,389 6,776 23,080 7,007 21,868 
			 Total Sciences 63,694 356,842 67,273 377,877 67,640 385,493 70,707 401,232 
			  
			 HE in FE institutions 
			 Biological sciences 0 277 74 349 97 332 64 307 
			 Agriculture and related subjects 63 1,625 75 1,893 49 2,025 34 1,845 
			 Physical sciences 0 441 8 256 15 258 20 229 
			 Mathematical sciences 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Computer science 0 3,593 0 3,741 0 4,463 0 5,425 
			 Engineering and technology 0 22,246 0 20,728 0 20,760 0 20,010 
			 Architecture, building and planning 0 6,348 0 6,154 0 5,854 27 5,817 
			 Other Science 0 1,721 18 2,359 87 3,053 81 3,187 
			 Total Sciences 63 36,257 175 35,480 248 36,745 226 36,821 
		
	
	
		
			  1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 
			 Subject group Post Graduate Under Graduate Post Graduate Under Graduate Post Graduate Under Graduate 
		
		
			 HE in HE institutions   
			 Medicine and dentistry 7,668 20,029 7,854 20,906 8,167 21,952 
			 Subjects allied to medicine 14,205 134,987 15,611 138,661 17,623 143,445 
			 Biological sciences 10,569 51,164 10,813 51,405 11,042 51,516 
			 Veterinary science 243 1,796 230 1,939 259 2,177 
			 Agriculture and related subjects 1,015 8,511 1,225 8,729 1,367 8,715 
			 Physical sciences 8,494 40,082 8,221 38,746 8,287 36,896 
			 Mathematical sciences 1,766 12,638 1,815 12,439 2,141 12,437 
			 Computer science 8,844 58,341 9,096 66,402 9,112 71,309 
			 Engineering and technology 11,324 61,459 12,798 61,419 12,915 61,735 
			 Architecture, building and planning 6,376 20,985 6,376 20,970 6,781 21,450 
			 Total Sciences 70,504 409,992 74,039 421,616 77,694 431,632 
			
			 HE in FE institutions 
			 Biological sciences 69 546 7 573 7 503 
			 Agriculture and related subjects 23 2,531 0 1,978 0 2,128 
			 Physical sciences 15 165 13 159 10 159 
			 Mathematical sciences 0 4 0 38 0 37 
			 Computer science 0 7,415 0 7,223 0 7,348 
			 Engineering and technology 0 18,648 0 17,447 0 15,917 
			 Architecture, building and planning 28 5,375 27 4,819 48 4,445 
			 Other Science 55 3,297 55 3,297 20 2,836 
			 Total Sciences 102 35,534 102 35,534 85 33,373

Sixth Forms

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK remained in education after the completion of their GCSEs in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: Data on the percentage of students staying on in full-time education and education and training is not calculated for areas smaller than LEAs as reliable estimates cannot be made.
	The percentage of 16-year-olds participating in full-time education, and in education and training, in South Tyneside local education authority, the North East and the UK for end 1997 to end 2000, the latest available year, are shown in the table.
	
		Participation by 16 year olds
		
			  End 1997 End 1998 End 1999 End 2000 
		
		
			 Full-time education 
			 South Tyneside LEA 52 53 57 57 
			 North East Region 60 61 64 65 
			 United Kingdom 70 71 72 73 
			 Education and training 
			 South Tyneside LEA — 76 81 78 
			 North East Region 78 82 86 87 
			 United Kingdom(2) 80 79 80 79 
		
	
	(2) Great Britain only up to end 1999, and England and Wales only for end 2000. The education and training figures in this row do not include part-time education.
	Note
	Participation rates by LEA for 16 and 17 year olds are published in an annual statistical bulletin, 'Participation in Education and Training by Young People Aged 16 and 17 in Each Local Area and Region, England'.

Teachers/Assistants

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) teachers and (b) teaching assistants were employed in (i) the West Midlands and (ii) Coventry in each of the last three years.

David Miliband: The numbers of teachers and teaching assistants in the West Midlands Government office region (GOR) and Coventry local education authority (LEA) in the last three years are given in the following tables.
	
		Teachers (3)
		
			 Region 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Coventry LEA 2,870 2,920 2,910 
			 West Midlands GOR 47,400 47,800 48,200 
		
	
	(3) Full-time equivalent regular teachers in service in the maintained sector in January of each year.
	Source
	618G
	
		Teaching Assistants(4)
		
			 Region 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Coventry LEA 800 670 640 
			 West Midlands GOR 10,410 11,120 13,050 
		
	
	(4) Full-time .equivalent teaching assistants in maintained primary, middle and secondary schools, special schools and pupil referral units in January of each year. Includes nursery assistants, special needs support staff, minority ethnic pupil support staff.
	Source
	Annual Schools' Census

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Contracts

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list contracts awarded by his Department in each of the last three years in excess of £100,000, giving the names of the successful bidder and the purpose of the contract.

Hilary Benn: The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Development Agencies

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what response the Government has made to the Brazilian President's suggestion of a global arms trade levy for funding development agencies.

Hilary Benn: The Government welcomes in principle any idea which seeks to reduce global hunger, and believes that all such proposals should be properly assessed. We are committed to finding the most effective way of mobilising the additional development resources which are needed if the Millennium Development Goals are to be met. This is why the UK has proposed an International Finance Facility.
	The Government endorses the work which the IMF and World Bank are currently carrying out on development financing mechanisms. This work will include all proposals for international taxes designed to generate additional development resources. The IMF and Bank have been asked to report to the Development Committee at the 2004 Spring Meetings, and to the IMFC at the 2004 Annual Meetings.

International Housing Rights

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his Answer of 25 September, if he will list representations (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) other representatives of the Government have received since 1997 on international housing rights law and breaches thereof; what (i) countries and (ii) regions these representations referred to; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Data on representations made to Government, since 1997, on international housing rights law and breaches thereof, is not held centrally, and it would incur a disproportionate cost to obtain the information the right hon. Member is seeking.
	I can however confirm that DFID has no record of representations made to members of my department or to me, since 1997, concerning international housing rights law, or breaches thereof, other than the hon. Member's question, reference 133212, to which I provided a written answer on 25 September.

Iraq

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 15 July 2003, Official Report, column 176W, on Iraq, which medical drugs are in short supply in Iraq; and in what quantities.

Hilary Benn: Recent assessments by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Iraqi Ministry of Health indicate that there are no major shortages of essential medical supplies in Iraq. There are however still reported shortages of some very specialised supplies such as antisera (eg anti snake venom) and some anti-cancer medicines. The supply of anti-tuberculosis medicines has improved after a period of shortage immediately after the war. Some health facilities have reported intermittent shortages of local anaesthetic, probably caused by periods of high demand.
	New medicine supply systems in Iraq are not yet fully operational and clear data remains difficult to obtain. WHO is working closely with the Ministry of Health, Kimadia (the Iraqi medical supply distribution agency) and the CPA to address immediate shortages and to establish formulae for likely consumption rates of priority medicines.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether families who have lost their primary earners as a result of coalition forces' military action against Iraq have been identified as part of the process for prioritising targeted aid to Iraqi civilians.

Hilary Benn: DFID's policy is to provide assistance which responds to the needs of people, especially the poorest, irrespective of the causes of those needs. The main current form of support for vulnerable Iraqis is the Public Distribution System for food rations. DFID is providing assistance to the Ministry of Trade to ensure the continued smooth-running of the system. We are also assisting with plans to reform the system in the medium-term, with a view to ensuring that the needs of the most vulnerable continue to be met.

Kosovo

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment has been made of the human rights situation in Kosovo; what plans he has with European colleagues to address abuses in the region; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which forms part of the United Nations Interim Administrative Mission in Kosovo, is the lead agency responsible for the monitoring and protection of human rights in Kosovo. OSCE reports regularly on human rights concerns with regard to, for example, property rights, ethnic minorities and the judicial system.
	DFID engages with these assessments to ensure that our activities consider important human rights issues. In particular, we share the OSCE's view that the development of an effective justice system that operates in accordance with international standards is an essential step in improving the human rights situation in Kosovo. We are funding two major programmes, one on justice-sector policymaking and another on community policing, to help improve the safety, security and access to justice of the people of Kosovo, through the inter-ministerial Global Conflict Prevention Pool.
	In addition, our contributions through the European Commission are also being used to strengthen justice systems in Kosovo. The European Agency for Reconstruction is supporting the improvement of court administration, and is also funding a highly successful civil legal aid programme that has so far assisted some 11,000 vulnerable people.

Microcredit Schemes

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions his Department has had with (a) UN officials and (b) regional development banks regarding the use of microcredit schemes to tackle world poverty.

Hilary Benn: DFID supports the contribution that microcredit can make to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, and is working with a range of multilateral and bilateral partners to improve the effectiveness of microfinance. Along with the UN, the World bank and the Regional Development Banks, DFID is a member of the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) which works as a multilateral donor organisation specialising in microfinance, and seeks to harmonise donor approaches to the industry. We encourage all those working in this area to provide assistance within the context of country-owned development strategies. I very much welcome the work of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Mircofinance which I addressed on 21 October.

Poverty Reduction

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures his Department is taking in conjunction with other countries to direct money for the reduction of poverty towards the poorest people.

Hilary Benn: By 2005–06, we aim to provide 90 per cent. of our bilateral assistance to low-income countries and will increase our annual bilateral assistance for Africa to £1 billion. Where possible we work through partner governments in the poorest countries in support of poverty reduction strategies that aim to strengthen their efforts to reduce poverty. We coordinate our programmes with other donor countries and are working closely with multilateral donors such as the World Bank, UN, EC and others to support and influence their assistance to have a strong poverty focus.

Reproductive Health

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 14 October 2003, reference 131802, what the delivery strategy for the Contraceptives Supply and Logistics programme in Bolivia was; what (a) local, (b) national, (c) regional and (d) international organisations are involved in this programme; what discussions (i) he, (ii) representatives of his Department and (iii) members of the UK representation in Bolivia have had with representatives of (A) the Government of Bolivia, (B) local communities and (C) the Church with regard to this programme; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Contraceptives Supply and Logistics programme supports the Government of Bolivia's National Sexual and Reproductive Health programme by assisting them in the purchase and distribution of contraceptives and by improving the quality of, and demand for, contraceptive services. The programme is managed by UNFPA and the Government of Bolivia with components implemented by CEASS (Central de Abastecimiento de Suministros) and the Population Council.
	Regular planning and monitoring meetings are held with the Government of Bolivia and local stakeholders are consulted and involved in programme implementation as is appropriate to each locality. This includes local health defence committees, evangelical churches and the Catholic Church, municipal governments and local non-governmental organisations.

Reproductive Health

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 14 October 2003, Official Report, columns 70–71W on reproductive health, what the (a) structure, (b) aims and (c) methods of the HIV/AIDS Umbrella Programme in Uganda are; when his Department last assessed the progress of this project; what the main conclusions of this assessment were; what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the Lord's Resistance Army's activities on (i) the reproductive health of the population in Uganda and (ii) the functioning of the HIV/AIDS Umbrella Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The HIV Umbrella Programme in Uganda has an allocation of £6.2 million for 2002–05. Its purpose is to improve the coordination and monitoring of the Uganda's Strategic HIV/AIDS Framework in support of its Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP). It also aims to improve the Government of Uganda's capacity to take effective action against HIV/AIDS, and supports service delivery and research on HIV/AIDS by civil society organisations.
	The programme was last assessed in September 2003. The review concluded that overall the programme's approach was both strategic and effective. However, the review noted that progress in building the Uganda AIDS Commission's (UAC) capacity to coordinate and monitor the National Strategic Response was slower than anticipated. In response to this finding, DFID will be funding an HIV Adviser, to be located in UAC from November 2003, to assist its staff in technical and organisational management issues, and help facilitate the HIV Partnership in Uganda.
	Insecurity in Northern Uganda has made access to health services difficult for many and there is some evidence that the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has targeted health centres (for drugs) and health workers in their attacks. Anecdotal evidence from NGOs suggests that life in crowded camps encourages earlier sexual activity, leading to a higher teenage pregnancy rate and increased spread of HIV. However, no data is available to date on this point, although a nationwide prevalence survey is due to be carried out at the end of the year.
	LRA activities are not directly impacting on the functioning of the HIV Umbrella Programme. However, the continuing insecurity in the North is hampering the ability of some of the civil society organisations supported under the programme to scale up their activities.

Reproductive Health

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his Answer of 14 October 2003, Official Report, columns 70–71W on reproductive health, what the (a) structure, (b) aims and (c) methods of the Social Marketing of Contraceptives project in Ethiopia are; when his Department last assessed the progress of this project; what the main conclusions of this assessment were; what the annual cost of the programme has been since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The project provides support through DKT International, which is a US based non-governmental organisation registered in Ethiopia, working on nationally led family planning and HIV prevention programmes. They make condoms and contraceptives available to poor people, and high risk groups, at low cost through commercial outlets.
	We regularly review their performance, through quarterly project progress reports against agreed targets and visits by DFID advisers. A formal review of their work will be conducted in 2004. We are satisfied with the progress that the project has made so far, and should be able to make a more in depth assessment when the formal review takes place in 2004.
	Our support for the project is £2 million over two years.

Reproductive Health

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his Answer of 14 October 2003, Official Report, columns 70–71W on reproductive health, what the (a) structure, (b) aims and (c) methods of the Reproductive Health, Freetown and Newly Accessible Areas in Sierra Leone are; when his Department last assessed the progress of this project; what the main conclusions of this assessment were; what areas of the country are now considered to be accessible; what issues (i) he and (ii) members of his Department have raised with representatives of the Government of Sierra Leone regarding the programme; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: All areas of Sierra Leone are now accessible. The main aims of the project are to provide access to affordable, high quality and innovative sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services; to increase awareness of basic health and SRH issues among beneficiary communities; and to increase the capacity of key stakeholders in providing SRH services and developing national health strategy and policy guidelines. The project aims to achieve these objectives through the existing Marie Stopes Sierra Leone centre network (four Reproductive Health Centres, two obstetric hospitals, and two laboratories) and outreach programmes.
	We receive quarterly progress reports on the project from Marie Stopes International. Our advisers last visited the project in March 2003. The main conclusion of their assessment was that the project provides high quality services and is reasonably well utilised. More can be done to improve the use of contraceptives, but awareness raising campaigns are addressing this. We have raised with Marie Stopes International the sustainability of the services provided by the project.
	DFID health advisers have regularly discussed issues concerning primary health care with the Government of Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation. These discussions have not focussed specifically or exclusively on SRH.

Reproductive Health

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 14 October 2003, Official Report, column 75W on reproductive health, if he will list the activities at country level funded until the end of 2003 what the (a) structure, (b) aims, (c) methods and (d) annual funding need for each of the activities were; how much the UK has (i) pledged and (ii) delivered to each of the activities since January 2001(A) in monetary terms, (B) as a percentage of the funding total and (C) as a percentage of the yearly balance from the one-off UK contribution; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Further to my previous answer of 14 October 2003, Official Report, column 75W, the whole of the UK's £25 million contribution is used to meet commodity needs in developing countries and for condoms in countries with a high prevalence of HIV. This is a multi-donor programme, worth $96 million. Of this, 45 per cent. has been distributed to Least Developed Countries and 66 per cent. to those in most need of assistance to meet the goals from the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). Part of the UK's contribution is being used to support capacity strengthening activities to assist countries to forecast and plan their commodity requirements.
	The detailed information requested in the question could only be provided at disproportionate cost. This £25 million one-off contribution is in addition to the UK's core funding to UNFPA (£18 million in 2003). This is disbursed in line with the overall framework for the UK's partnership with UNFPA, set out in the Institutional Strategy Paper (ISP) published in June 2001.

Reproductive Health

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his Answer of 14 October 2003, Official Report, columns 75–76W on reproductive health, what the (a) structure, (b) aims and (c) methods of the Bolivia Post-Abortion Care Project are; what discussions (i) he, (ii) representatives of his Department and (iii) members of the UK representation in Bolivia have had with representatives of (A) the Government of Bolivia, (B) local communities and (C) the Church with regard to this programme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The most recent official statistics from Bolivia (1992) put the maternal mortality rate at 390 for every 100,000 live births. This is one of the highest figures in Latin America and is disproportionately high for a country of the economic status of Bolivia. A key cause of mortality is unwanted pregnancy and subsequently complications resulting from illegal abortion. The aim of the Post Abortion Care (PAC) Services programme is to help Bolivia progress towards the Millenium Development Goal of a 75% reduction in maternal mortality by 2015. The approach of the programme is to increase access by poor women experiencing post-abortion complications to high quality, cost-effective Post Abortion Care (PAC) Services under the Basic Health Package. The programme supports the provision of outpatient PAC with manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) services at five tertiary-level hospitals, strengthened training capacity for PAC with MVA at five teaching hospitals, the institutionalisation of PAC training for medical residents, the introduction by Government of Bolivia of the PAC-with-MVA model in secondary-level hospitals in rural areas, and the strengthening of the supply of PAC-with-MVA medical equipment and drugs, for present and future services.
	The programme is managed in partnership with the Government of Bolivia and supports its Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme. Local communities are closely involved in discussions on the introduction of PAC with MVA in secondary level hospitals, and the church is consulted in the context of discussion on national reproductive health strategies.

Reproductive Health

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 25 September 2003, Official Report, columns 69–70W on Malawi, if he will list each of the reproductive health programmes in Malawi supported by his Department; what review his Department has undertaken of reproductive health programmes supported by his Department in Malawi in 2002–03; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID supports the following programmes in Malawi that are concerned in whole or part with reproductive health:
	The DFID Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme, which supports the National Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme and the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework including the National AIDS Commission;
	The Safe Motherhood Project covering the Southern region;
	The Integrated Sexual & Reproductive Health Programme which is implemented by Banja la Mtsogolo, a local non-governmental organisation, with a focus on the reproductive health needs of youth, including HIV/AIDS;
	The National Tuberculosis Programme, which has activities on the TB-HIV link.
	The Malawi Ministry of Health and Population conducted a joint review of the DFID and Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health Programmes and the Safe Motherhood Project in November 2002 with DFID and other development partners. The review reported some progress in all activities, but also noted that there were factors beyond the control of the programmes that inhibited progress. These included critical shortage of health personnel, lack of other resources and the rising impact of HIV/AIDS. The international financial institutions and donors including DFID are working with the Malawi Government to address the underlying issues, such as wage policy and macro economic management, that contribute to the problems affecting the health sector.
	The National AIDS Commission undertook a joint stakeholder review in March 2003. The review concluded that progress was encouraging. It recommended that the Commission proceed with organisational re-structuring and that donors provide financing through a pooled funding arrangement, instead of through separate individual agreements.

Reproductive Health

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the structure, aims and methods of the (a) DFID/Zambia HIV/AIDS Programme approved in June and (b) the Sector Wide Approach Project approved in 2000 are; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The information is as follows:
	(a) DFID/Zambia HIV/AIDS Programme
	The DFID HIV/AIDS Multisectoral Programme in Zambia is supporting the national multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS, spearheaded by the National AIDS Council. The overall aim of the programme is to reduce HIV transmission and to reduce the socio-economic impact of the disease, in accordance with the Zambia National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework.
	The DFID programme, approved in June 2003, is worth £20 million over six years. The programme has four components: (i) strengthening the capacity of the National AIDS Council; (ii) supporting public sector services such as supplying essential commodities; (iii) supporting the civil society response in behaviour change, impact mitigation and promotion of human rights; and (iv) expanding the private sector response.
	(b) Sector Wide Approach to Health
	DFID is supporting the health sector in Zambia through the Sector Wide Approach to Health programme. The main implementing partner is the Central Board of Health. The programme aims to improve the health status of all Zambians through increased access to better quality health services.
	The DFID programme, approved in July 2000, is worth £20 million over six years. The programme has contributed to a common funding basket, together with other development partners, to enable the sustainable delivery of cost effective basic health services. Other inputs include the provision of drugs and medical supplies, technical assistance for capacity building, and the provision of impregnated bed nets to prevent malaria.

Reproductive Health

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the structure, aims and methods of the DFID Reproductive Health Support Project in Zambia are, broken down by projected per annum expenditure for the three year allocated budget approved in 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Reproductive health encompasses the services for family planning, contraception and childbearing that make an important contribution to increasing women's choice and opportunity, and to preventing unplanned or unwanted pregnancy. DFID is committed to promoting reproductive health and fighting HIV/AIDS.
	Since 2001, DFID direct support to reproductive health in Zambia has been through the Reproductive Health Support Project worth £2.9 million. Financial year spending has been:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2001–02 78,839 
			 2002–03 1,221,582 
			 2003–04 (5)1,580,000 
		
	
	(5) Estimate for the full year
	The aim of the project is to increase the use of modern methods of family planning and the use of condoms for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. The project is managed by the Central Board of Health, which is the statutory body set up by the Zambian Government to implement health policies. Through this programme, and its forerunner, contraceptive distribution and use have increased.

Russia

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department is supporting to (a) measure poverty in Russia and (b) promote public access to the data; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID is supporting two projects to measure poverty in Russia and promote public access to data:
	(a) "Poverty statistics and monitoring" project in partnership with the World Bank, the Russian Ministry of Labour and Social Development and State Statistics Committee. The project purpose is to establish an improved information base and analysis for policy makers. The overall budget is £1.5 million over the period from April 2002 to December 2005.
	(b) "Review of poverty issues in Russia" project implemented by London School of Economics. The overall budget is £90,000 for four years (February 2002 to February 2005). The project purpose is to inform the Russia programme on poverty measurements with particular respect to two oblasts, Leningrad and Nizhniy Novgorod, where DFID is supporting partnership programmes.
	Both projects pursue the following goals:
	To develop improved poverty measurement methodology for Russia, based on international experience;
	To identify a system of indicators for on-line poverty monitoring and poverty level forecast and establish a poverty monitoring system;
	To provide open access for external users to the State Statistics Committee's Household Budgeting Survey data;
	To prepare poverty reduction recommendations in the form of an official report containing a detailed analysis of poverty level, profile, sources and socioeconomic policy efficiency.
	Understanding the extent and depth of poverty in Russia and monitoring its trend is a key part of DFID's Russia Programme and the Government of Russia's long-term social-economic modernization plan (the Gref plan). Current estimates of the number of poor people in Russia vary widely from 20 per cent. to 40 per cent. of population, depending on the source of data, the methodology used and the definition of poverty. Accurate data and proper poverty analysis will help the Government of Russia to target resources to poor people more efficiently.

Southern African Development Community

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 14 October 2003, reference 131644, if he will list the programmes run by the Southern African Development Community in (a) Botswana, (b) Namibia, (c) Lesotho and (d) Swaziland, with specific reference to national projects undertaken under the auspices of the Southern African Development Community's HIV/AIDS Programme and including an outline of each programme's methods; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The SADC Regional HIV/AIDS programme aims to promote improved effectiveness and co-ordination of HIV/AIDS programmes in Botswana,
	Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland. It operates five programmes in each of the four countries:
	Improved management of sexually transmitted infections, focused particularly on cross border sites;
	Support to strengthen and co-ordinate the work of National AIDS Commissions;
	Condom social marketing;
	Support to people living with HIV and AIDS;
	Support for behaviour change communication campaigns.
	More detail on the individual national components and their methods is available from the SADC HIV/AIDS Programme at Private Bag X828, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. SADC's website is at www.sadc.int

Uganda

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 4 July 2003, Official Report, column 512W, 
	(1)  which humanitarian requests they have decided to respond to in Teso, Uganda;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Teso, Uganda.

Hilary Benn: It has been estimated by the World Food Programme that 305,899 people are currently displaced in the Teso region.
	A public health expert funded by DFID Uganda recently visited Teso to assess the humanitarian situation. She reported that the most pressing immediate needs are food for the displaced, and maintenance of adequate water and sanitation services in areas of high population density.
	DFID has therefore made available a further £1.87 million to the World Food Programme for the purchase and distribution of food, and is currently discussing further humanitarian support requirements with UNICEF and the Red Cross.

UN Greater Darfur Initiative

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the structure, aims and methods of the UN Greater Darfur Initiative are; what the projected total funding needs for the UNGDI are; how much of this has already been pledged, and by whom; how much of the pledged UK funding has already been contributed; how far the setting up of the UNGDI has progressed since its launch; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: On 3 September, the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Army agreed a ceasefire for Darfur in western Sudan. The UN estimates that some 500,000 people have been displaced in Darfur; 300,000 of which as a result of the recent conflict. It is estimated that there are about 70,000 refugees in Chad. High rates of malnutrition have been reported in Darfur. The UN responded with an Initiative to mobilise funds for the region.
	The objectives of the UN Greater Darfur Special Initiative (GDSI) are: to help the most seriously affected populations; defuse local tensions; and begin to address the underlying causes of the conflicts in the Greater Darfur region of Sudan. The Initiative includes accelerated humanitarian relief and longer-term assistance. The GDSI has not only raised the profile of the situation in Darfur, but also improved access to vulnerable groups in the region.
	The total funding requirement for the UN GDSI is $22.8 million (approximately £15 million). The UK responded to the Initiative with a pledge of £1 million. We are currently in the process of committing this pledge against specific proposals recently circulated by the various UN agencies, the Red Cross and non-governmental organisations. We stand ready to respond further, as the situation in Darfur determines. We have already committed £0.5 million to Save the Children UK to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced people and other vulnerable groups in North Darfur. Norway has pledged $0.75 million (approximately £0.5 million) to the GDSI. Others donors, including US Agency for International Development and the Humanitarian Aid Office of the European Commission (ECHO), are also contributing to the provision of humanitarian assistance in the region.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Asbestos

John Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths in Northern Ireland resulting from asbestos-related illnesses there were in each of the last 10 years, broken down by specific illnesses diagnosed.

Ian Pearson: The following table gives the number of deaths resulting from asbestos-related illness, registered in Northern Ireland from 1992 to 2002. Separate figures are given for the two main primary causes of death, mesothelioma and 'asbestosis'.
	
		Table: Number of registered deaths by year in Northern Ireland resulting from asbestos related illnesses (mesothelioma and 'asbestosis')
		
			  Mesothelioma 'Asbestosis' Total 
		
		
			 1992 47 4 51 
			 1993 43 4 47 
			 1994 29 4 33 
			 1995 34 5 39 
			 1996 32 4 36 
			 1997 42 0 42 
			 1998 40 6 46 
			 1999 46 4 50 
			 2000 37 6 43 
			 2001 54 9 63 
			 2002 42 12 54

Cardiac Care

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are waiting (a) to see a cardiologist and (b) for cardiac surgery in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The number of people waiting for a first out-patient appointment and for in-patient admission by specialty is returned to the Department on a quarterly basis by Trusts. The returns provide information about the number of people waiting for a first out-patient appointment and in-patient admission on the last day of each quarter. Information in this answer is provided for Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery specialties. The information in this answer relates to the position at 30 June 2003 (the most recent information available):
	(a) At 30 June 2003 there were 4,181 patients awaiting a first out-patient appointment in the cardiology specialty and 139 patients awaiting a first out-patient appointment at a Cardiac Surgery clinic.
	(b) At 30 June 2003, 430 patients were awaiting admission to the Cardiac Surgery specialty in Northern Ireland, while 1,363 patients were awaiting admission to the Cardiology specialty.

Decommissioning Commission

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total costs were of the International Independent Commission on Decommissioning for the last full year of its operation; and what proportion was borne by (a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) the Irish Government.

Jane Kennedy: The Commission's running costs are shared equally between the British and Irish Governments. The British Government's share of the costs, for the financial year 2002–03, is £309,600.

Equality Commission

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials from the Department of Finance and Personnel have had with the Equality Commission on the exclusion of Irish nationals from reserved posts.

Ian Pearson: On 27 August 2003 officials from the Department of Finance and Personnel met Equality Commission staff for a general discussion on progress on the Senior Civil Service Review and Associated Action Plan. The discussion covered a range of issues, including the application of nationality rules to reserved posts. There have been no formal discussions between Ministers and the Equality Commission on this matter.

EU Directives

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the Northern Ireland departments in breach of EU Directives in each of the last three years, broken down by total amount of fines incurred.

Paul Murphy: Proceedings for non-compliance with EU directives can only be taken at the level of the member state. To date there have been no fines levied against the UK for any breach of EU directives.

Farming

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures have been introduced to assist (a) the early retirement of farmers and (b) new entrants into farming in Northern Ireland. [R]

Ian Pearson: Early in 2002 independent research was commissioned from Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and University College Dublin (UCD) to investigate the viability of both a New Entrants and an Early Retirement Scheme in Northern Ireland. This research concluded that there could be economic benefits from a New Entrants Scheme in the form of an interest rate subsidy but that the latter would not offer good value for money. I have not seen any other analyses which would cause me to dispute the research project findings.
	A draft New Entrant Scheme was put out to consultation on 19 May 2003. The consultation produced a positive response and I hope that an announcement about a scheme will be made shortly.

Farming

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many participants have enrolled in (a) the Organic Farming Scheme and (b) the Countryside Management Scheme, in each of the last three years. [R]

Ian Pearson: There are currently 59 individuals participating in the Organic Farming Scheme. There were 40, 13 and four new participants during 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03, respectively. To date in 2003–04 there have been two new entrants to this scheme.
	There are currently 2,129 participants in the Countryside Management Scheme, 655 entered during 2001–02, 1,023 during 2002–03 and 451 have entered to date in 2003–04. There were no entrants during 2000–01.

Prescription Fraud

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the estimated cost of prescription fraud in Northern Ireland was in each of the last three years.

Angela Smith: The best estimate for the cost of prescription fraud in 2000–01 was £9.5 million, in 2001–02 it was £8.6 million and in 2002–03 it was £8.3 million.
	It should be noted that the figures include the situations where a patient has deliberately set out to defraud the system and cases where a patient has misclaimed exemption from prescription charges in error.

Public Administration Review

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish proposals on the future of the Review of Public Administration; and what consultation he will undertake.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 24 June 2003, on the progress and priorities for Northern Ireland.
	My right hon. Friend indicated that the Review team would prepare a paper for publication in the autumn, which will form the basis for discussions with local political parties and key stakeholders.
	A consultation paper is now at an advanced stage of preparation and it is my intention that this will be published in the near future.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bolivia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the current social unrest in Bolivia; how many UK citizens are known to remain in La Paz and El Alto; when (a) he and (b) members of his Department last had discussions with (i) Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada, (ii) members of his Cabinet, (iii) representatives of his Government in Bolivia and (iv) representatives of his Government in the UK; what the central issues of the discussions were; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Up to 20 October we believe that those British visitors who wanted to leave La Paz and El Alto have now done so. We further estimate that there are 90 British citizens remaining in those cities. Our ambassador in Bolivia met President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada on 4 September and the Bolivian Foreign Minister on 16 October when he discussed the situation.
	The most recent ministerial contact in the UK was when my hon. Friend the then Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry (Mr. Wilson) met the Bolivian Energy Minister in January 2003. I most recently met the Bolivian ambassador on 6 October 2003.
	Following the resignation of President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada on 17 October the situation in Bolivia now appears to be rapidly returning to normal. We have kept in close touch, as this crisis has unfolded with our EU partners, particularly with regard to the safety of EU citizens in Bolivia. We will continue to monitor the situation closely as it develops over the next few days. We hope that Bolivia can now address its problems through peaceful dialogue and negotiation.

Burma

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports the UK Government received of action by the Burmese authorities against the (a) Karen, (b) Karenni and (c) Shan peoples.

Mike O'Brien: We receive regular reports from International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs), the UN's Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma and the British Embassy in Rangoon on the disproportionate suffering of ethnic groups in Burma, including the Karen, Karenni and Shan.

China

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government regarding the imprisonment of Gong Shengliang; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have raised Pastor Gong Shengliang's case with the Chinese authorities on a number of occasions. Most recently we supported an EU demarche in Beijing on 18 July. The Chinese authorities said the allegations of torture and ill-treatment were untrue and that he was in good health.
	We also raised Pastor Gong's case directly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On 31 July they told us that Pastor Gong had had stomach problems before he was imprisoned and that following treatment the problems had stabilised. His relatives had visited him four times.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will bring forward proposals to enable Gibraltar to participate in elections to the UK Parliament.

Denis MacShane: We have no plans to do so. Overseas Territories, including Gibraltar, are not part of the metropolitan UK.

Global Conflict Prevention Pool

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the Global Conflict Prevention Pool and its achievements since its creation.

Bill Rammell: Setting up the Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) has helped the partner departments (FCO, MOD and DFID) work more closely together in the field of conflict prevention. This is also helping the departments carry out more detailed and consistent policy analysis, and establish a more integrated approach to developing and implementing programmes on the ground. The Pools are therefore strengthening the UK's contribution to international conflict prevention efforts by ensuring that initiatives are based on evidence of what works and are well targeted.
	In FY 2002–03 the total spent on GCPP programmes was £66 million. The budget for FY 2003–04 is £74 million. Details of the GCPP Strategies are set out in the recent publication the GCPP: The Global Conflict Prevention Pool—A joint UK Government approach to reducing conflict, which is available in the Library of the House. A copy of the booklet has also been placed on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk) accessible under Global Issues-International Organisations-UN-Conflict Prevention.
	Since its start in April 2000, the GCPP has funded several hundred projects under a range of geographic and thematic strategies. It has been engaged in:
	Post conflict reconstruction work in Afghanistan, the Balkans, and now in Iraq.
	Helping to create security, stability and encourage peace negotiations in Belize and Guatemala, Nepal, Indonesia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sri Lanka.
	Supporting more stable and democratic systems in Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union.
	In encouraging contact between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.
	Building capacity to undertake conflict prevention work in international organisations such as the UN and OSCE.
	Developing understanding and promoting activity on security sector reform as a means of longer-term prevention of conflict, and a reduction in the levels of small arms and light weapons.
	An independent evaluation is being undertaken this year to look at how the Pools are run and assess the impact of their work to date.

Central Africa

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how UN Security Council Resolution 1484 on the African Great Lakes region is being implemented; and what monitoring of the implementation is taking place.

Bill Rammell: UN Security Council Resolution 1484 authorised the deployment until 1 September of an Interim Emergency Multinational Force (IEMF) in Bunia.
	The IEMF deployed to Bunia in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in June. As framework nation, France provided the military commander and the majority of the force. A number of EU member states and non-EU nations contributed. The UK provided an engineer detachment and Hercules transport to assist with the deployment; in addition we deployed five staff officers to serve with the operation HQ. It was the first EU led operation outside Europe.
	The IEMF were replaced on 1 September by the UN's Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) Ituri Brigade operating under a more robust mandate.

Indonesia

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a permanent secretary or under-secretary in his Department has visited Indonesia since 1973; and what the purpose was of each visit.

Mike O'Brien: To compile the information requested for 1973 to 1999 would incur disproportionate costs. However, since 2000:
	4–5 July 2000 Permanent Secretary, to discuss bilateral and multilateral issues.
	12–16 September 2000 Director General (Deputy Under Secretary) Wider World, familiarisation and to discuss bilateral and multilateral issues.
	22–24 November 2000 Group Chief Executive (Permanent Secretary equivalent), British Trade International (a joint DTI/FCO Department), to discuss trade and investment issues.
	30 July-3 August 2001 Director (Assistant Under Secretary) Asia/Pacific, to discuss bilateral and multilateral issues.
	12–14 December 2001 Permanent Secretary (designate), as part of a programme of visits to familiarise himself with as many overseas posts as possible.
	4–5 July 2002 Director (Assistant Under Secretary) Economic, to discuss economic and trade policy issues.
	7–10 January 2003 Director (Assistant Under Secretary) Asia/Pacific, accompanying the Prime Minister on his visit to Indonesia.
	14 May 2003 Director (Assistant Under Secretary) Asia/Pacific (designate), to attend an ASEM senior officials meeting.
	21–25 July 2003 Director (Assistant Under Secretary) Asia/Pacific, accompanying the Minister to the ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting.

Indonesia

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when files on the visit to Indonesia by department officials in October 1975 will be released.

Mike O'Brien: The file containing papers relating to a visit to Indonesia by department officials in October 1975 is due for review in 2005 for consideration for release under the 30-year rule in January 2006.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his written statement of 17 September 2003, Official Report, column 53WS, on Iraq, what provisions have been made to ensure security against theft of arms and other related military material exported to Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The Government takes very seriously the security of arms and military equipment approved for export to Iraq. Provisions, determined on a case-by-case basis, include the condition that equipment will remain under the control of the end user at all times, be stored securely, and removed from Iraq at the end of its period of use.

Iraq

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many barrels of oil have been exported from Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein; what value this represents; and what use has been made of the proceeds.

Bill Rammell: Between May and 14 October around 85.2 million barrels of oil were exported by the Iraqi State Oil Marketing Organisation. The total sales revenues amounted to around $2.14 billion. Under UN Security Council resolution 1483 all proceeds from Iraq's oil sales must be paid into the Development Fund for Iraq. The money in this fund is to be used to meet the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people, for the economic reconstruction and repair of Iraq's infrastructure, for the continued disarmament of Iraq, and for the costs of Iraqi civilian administration and other purposes benefiting the people of Iraq as specified in the resolution.

Iraq

Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of Order 39, issued by Mr. Paul Bremer III.

Bill Rammell: Copies of Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Order 39 have been placed in the Library of the House. Orders are also available on the CPA website at www.cpa-iraq.org.

Middle East

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the US Administration on its approach to ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Bill Rammell: The establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel is at the heart of President Bush's vision of a final settlement, as set out in his speech of 24 June 2002. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, the noble Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean and FCO officials are in constant touch with US colleagues to realise that vision. We agree with them that the Quartet roadmap provides the right mechanism, and are working with them to implement it.

Middle East

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to persuade the Israeli Government to pursue a negotiated settlement with the Palestinians; and what assessment he has made of the possible use of targeted sanctions.

Bill Rammell: The Government constantly urges the Israeli Government at the highest level and through the EU to fulfil its obligations under the roadmap, which is agreed by both parties and the international community to be the route to a peaceful settlement in the Middle East. The Government believe that, as a friend of Israel and the Palestinians, we can best exert influence and encourage both sides to take the steps needed for progress through close engagement with them. We do not believe that targeted sanctions would bring the parties any nearer to a peaceful resolution.

Middle East

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU colleagues on the development of a mechanism for monitoring the roadmap for peace.

Bill Rammell: EU Foreign Ministers discussed the mechanism for monitoring the roadmap at their meeting on 29 September. We agreed that
	"the EU will continue to work closely and consistently with the US and with other Quartet partners on all issues linked to the successful implementation of the roadmap by the parties".
	The EU co-ordinates the work of the Task Force on Palestinian Reform and is ready to contribute to a credible and effective monitoring mechanism.

Middle East

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the deportation by the State of Israel of persons against whom no charges have been laid; and what action he plans to take consistent with Articles 146 and 147 of the 4th Geneva Convention.

Bill Rammell: We are deeply concerned by the Israeli government policy of relocating certain Palestinians to Gaza. We believe such actions are inconsistent with international law. We have previously raised our concerns with the Government of Israel and urged them not to carry out expulsions. We will continue to do so.

Middle East

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to condemn the bombing of Syria by Israel; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We deplore Israel's attack on Ayn Sahib on 5 October. As our Ambassador to the United Nations told the Security Council, this was unacceptable and represented an escalation of the situation in the region. While we understand Israel's need to protect her citizens from terrorism, we urge all sides to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that escalate tension.

Russian Polar Medal

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on discussions to enable Arctic Convoy Veterans to accept the Russian Polar Medal.

Bill Rammell: Officials are continuing to research the possibility of an exception to the present rules to permit veterans to accept the Defence of the Soviet Arctic Region Medal, should the Russian Government formally seek the Government's authority to award the medal to British citizens. We hope that the work will be completed before the end of the year.

Russia

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the Department last made representations on seal clubbing to the Russian authorities.

Bill Rammell: The British Embassy in Moscow last raised the issue of seal clubbing with the Ministry of Natural Resources on 22 April and followed by a letter to the Ministry on 23 April. The Embassy also raised the issue through letters to the Russian Fisheries Committee on 23 February and to the All-Russia Scientific Research institute under the Fisheries Committee on 13 February.
	The issue of seal clubbing is also regularly raised with the Russian Embassy in London.

Syria

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the US imposition of sanctions on Syria.

Bill Rammell: The imminent passing of the Syrian Accountability Act through Congress is an internal matter for the US. The UK remains committed to a policy of constructive and, where necessary, critical engagement with Syria. This allows us to support change for the better while clearly communicating our views on issues of concern.

UN Security Council

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the representation of the (a) United Kingdom and (b) European Union on the UN Security Council.

Bill Rammell: We support continued British Permanent membership of the Security Council. Britain supports enlargement of the Security Council, but we do not support a European Union seat.

Vietnam

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Vietnam.

Mike O'Brien: 2003 marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the UK and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Visits to the UK in September by the Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister, Vu Khoan, and four other Vietnamese Ministers are testimony to the growing breadth and depth of relations. We have regular engagement with the Vietnamese Government on a range of issues: development, trade and investment, and education, as well as political issues, including human rights. The UK is a major investor in Vietnam and DFID's aid programme to Vietnam, currently £25 million, is its fastest growing aid programme in the world.

TREASURY

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter to him dated 27 August from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. M. Galian, passed to him by the Department for Transport.

John Healey: The letter from my right hon. Friend arrived in the Treasury on 21 October. I have replied.

EU Constitution

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether direct taxation will remain the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government if the draft EU Constitution is ratified by the UK.

Dawn Primarolo: Any changes to the provisions of the existing EU Treaties, including in relation to direct taxation, require the unanimous agreement of all member states. The Government have made it clear in their White Paper, "The British Approach to the European Union Intergovernmental Conference 2003", that they will insist that tax matters continue to be decided by unanimity.

European Constitution

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the implications of the proposed European Constitution on the UK's ability to set corporation tax.

Dawn Primarolo: Any changes to the provisions of the existing EU Treaties, including in relation to corporation tax, require the unanimous agreement of all member states. The Government have made it clear in their White Paper, "The British Approach to the European Union Intergovernmental Conference 2003", that they will insist that tax matters continue to be decided by unanimity.

National Insurance

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Treasury of removing the obligation on those who have paid or been credited with 44 years of national insurance contributions to make further payments prior to their retirement.

Dawn Primarolo: Reliable information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

National Insurance

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged under 65 who have contributed for 44 years and have qualified for a 100 per cent. retirement pension paid employee national insurance contributions in the last year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Reliable information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Unused Airline Tickets

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures are in place for refunding taxes on unused airline tickets; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Air passenger duty (APD) is payable by aircraft operators. Nearly all airlines pass on the duty charge to their passengers via fares, though whether or not they do so is a decision for the airlines, and it is normal commercial practice for them to charge their customers at the time of ticket sale.
	No liability to APD arises if a flight is cancelled, or a passenger is unable to travel on a pre-booked flight. Whether the airline makes a refund to the passenger in such circumstances is a commercial matter between them. If passengers consider that they have been misled, they can contact their Local Trading Standards Office, who can investigate and prosecute traders in such circumstances.

Working Tax Credit (Scotland)

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are in receipt of working tax credit in Scotland, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority; and what percentage each of these figures represents of the number of people eligible for the credit.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of families in each constituency and local authority who were receiving child and working tax credit at 11 July 2003 are shown in "Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical Analyses. July 2003." This is available on the Inland Revenue website at: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/geog-analysis-jul03.pdf
	No estimates are available of the number of families eligible by local constituency or local authority.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Workplace Stress

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to introduce regulations on businesses in relation to the reduction of stress in the workplace.

Malcolm Wicks: Existing legislation (Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974. and the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999) places a general duty on employers to protect the health and safety of their employees and to carry out an adequate risk assessment. These duties apply equally to work-related stress as any other work-place hazard.
	Following public consultation during 1999 the Health and Safety Commission decided that a legislative approach would be hard to define. Consequently there are no plans to introduce further legislation, although the need for an Approved Code of Practice will be kept under review.
	To assist employers to tackle the problem of work-related stress the Health and Safety Executive are currently piloting draft management standards with the intention of launching them in late 2004. The standards will have the status of guidance and will provide a yardstick against which employers can measure their progress in measuring work-related stress.

Bereavement Payment

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for Bereavement Payment were made in tax year 2002–03; and what estimate he has made of how many people (a) failed to make claims for Bereavement Payment and (b) there were whose claims were made after the three month deadline.

Chris Pond: 64,000 claims for Bereavement Payment were received in 2002–03. We have made no estimate of the number of people who have failed to make a claim, or whose claims were made outside the time limit.
	We have extended the time limit for claiming a Bereavement Payment from three to 12 months for all cases where death occurred on or after 1 April 2003.
	Note:Rounded to nearest thousand
	Source:DWP Data

Child Poverty

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in eradicating child poverty; what assessment has been made identifying further work that needs to be done; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: Poverty is a complex and multi-dimensional problem. We published 'Opportunity for all—Fifth Annual Report' (Cm 5956) in September 2003, which sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and presents information on the indicators used to measure progress against this strategy.
	In April 2002, we published 'Measuring child poverty: a consultation document' to gather views on an appropriate measure of child poverty for the long term. We published the preliminary conclusions of our consultation on 14 May 2003. The report states that further technical work is necessary before finalising any new measure of child poverty and that we intend to publish final conclusions by the end of 2003.
	Both reports are available in the Library.

Crown Immunity

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his policy on the removal of Crown Immunity from prosecution.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government stands by its commitment to remove Crown immunity from statutory health and safety enforcement and will seek a legislative opportunity, when parliamentary time allows.

Health and Safety Executive

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the Health and Safety Executive will conclude negotiations on the 2003 annual pay increase.

Des Browne: We are not able to say when the negotiations will be concluded. That is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive and the trade unions and will depend upon their ability to reach an agreed settlement.

Health and Safety Executive

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by what means principal inspectors in the field offices of the Construction Division of the Health and Safety Executive are supervised from remote locations.

Des Browne: Principal Inspectors are managed using a variety of techniques including face to face meetings (either individually or as a group), video conference, telephone or e-mail contact. The Health and Safety Executive has a detailed staff appraisal system which is supported by management information systems and the review of samples of work in accordance with HSE's quality systems.

Health and Safety Executive

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of notification of building sites (F10 forms) received in local offices of the Health and Safety Executive resulted in an inspection visit by a fully qualified inspector in the last 12 months.

Des Browne: The information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Health and Safety Executive

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the field inspectors and work contract officers of the Health and Safety Executive will prosecute companies who do not possess an employer's liability compulsory insurance certificate; and how many such prosecutions there have been in the past 12 months.

Des Browne: Where an employer has not got appropriate employers' liability insurance, or does not produce a valid certificate of insurance when required to do so, then the Health and Safety Executive will consider prosecution.
	Each case must be considered on its own merits, and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. Prosecution decisions will also take account of the time since the date of offence, because offences under ELCI Act 1969 are triable only summarily, which means there is a six-month time limit from the date of the offence to commencing a prosecution.
	Where there is evidence of non-insurance, and the case is within the statutory time period, then HSE will normally prosecute.
	During the period 15 October 2002 to 14 October 2003, there were a total of 10 prosecution cases heard for prosecutions brought by HSE for failure to have insurance.
	In addition to prosecution, the issue of 'Notices to Produce' (NTPs) is an important part of HSE's enforcement of ELCI. NTPs require the employer to produce a valid certificate of insurance to HSE. During the same period, HSE issued a total of 73 NTPs.

Insurance Premiums

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the last six months of problems for small and medium sized enterprises caused by the recent increases in insurance premiums.

Malcolm Wicks: A survey by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) found that price increases were most concentrated on a limited number of companies. Nearly half of all companies had no price rise or less than 20 per cent. However, between 5 per cent. and 12 per cent. of businesses saw premiums at least double and often increase by several hundred per cent. More recent figures from Datamonitor, a leading business information company, show less extreme pricing trends than the OFT survey but support the general picture. Overwhelmingly, these were small and medium sized companies, mostly in sectors traditionally associated with high accident risks.
	In the First Stage Report of the Review of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) the Department noted that many SMEs have faced real difficulties including:
	reduced profit margins tied to an inability to pass on increased costs, with a potential knock-on affect on business investment;
	curtailment of business activity in some sectors deemed to be too high risk by insurers;
	difficulties with business planning caused by uncertainty;
	according to some business representatives, being forced to make staff redundant or reduce rates of pay;
	anecdotally, the linking of increased EL premiums to business failure; and reports of trading uninsured.
	The Department has been looking at ways of alleviating the difficulties in the Second Stage of the Review and will report in the autumn on the progress that has been made and on the further steps that we intend to take.

Insurance Premiums

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions his Department has had with the insurance industry over the past six months regarding the issue of notice periods for the renewal of employers liability insurance; and what the outcome of such discussions was.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has had a number of discussions with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) about Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) over the last six months. The discussions covered a range of issues including the issue of notice periods for the renewal of ELCI.
	The ABI and BIBA recently announced a statement of good practice, which recommends that liability insurance policy holders receive at least 21 days' notice of their renewal terms.
	The Department welcomes the initiative on the part of the ABI and BIBA.
	In addition, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has recently consulted on whether it should set an 'in good time' requirement or a 21 day notice period for renewals for commercial customers, and is currently considering responses to its consultation.

Insurance Premiums

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out in his Department's second report into Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance a list of trade organisations that he has met.

Malcolm Wicks: Yes.

Insurance Premiums

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria his Department will use in deciding the content of the follow-up report on Employer's Liability Compulsory Insurance due for publication in the autumn.

Malcolm Wicks: The content of the Second Stage Report will accord with the commitments given in the First Stage Report, namely that the Department will continue to monitor developments in the Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance market and will report on the progress that has been made against the agenda for action that was set out in the First Stage Report. The agenda for action comprised:
	working with interested parties to help develop the basis for more risk-related premiums;
	working with stakeholders to maximise the benefits for EL of current initiatives within the legal system. In parallel, discussing with stakeholders the options for alternative dispute resolution arrangements;
	engaging with business, industry and other stakeholders to further evaluate the evidence for separating long-term occupational disease risks from accident risks—more evidence would be needed to assess whether a radical separation is justified;
	making rehabilitation play a more central role in the UK workers' compensation system, to improve outcomes for employees and to let compensation reflect this;
	reforming the arrangements for enforcement of EL, to tackle the unfairness of competition trading illegally without insurance cover and to better protect employees.

Insurance Premiums

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made on the impact of long tail insurance on the level of premiums.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department is aware that the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has commissioned research to develop proposals in this area. We have discussed this with the ABI and other stakeholders. We await the results of the research with interest.

Insurance Premiums

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 18 September, Official Report, column 904W, to the hon. Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe), when he expects the follow-up report on employer's liability compulsory insurance to be published.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe) on 18 September, Official Report, column 904W. The position remains the same.

Insurance Premiums

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 18 September 2003, Official Report, column 904W, to the hon. Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe), what steps his Department is taking to make an assessment of the number of small and medium sized enterprises that have stopped trading in the past 12 months as a result of increased insurance premiums.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe) on 18 September, Official Report, column 908W. The position remains the same.

Pension Credit

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many applications for pension credit there have been, broken down by region; and how many have been successful;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on take-up of pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 14 October 2003, Official Report, column 5WS.

Pensions (Means-testing)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on means testing of state pensions on (a) 1 October 1997 and (b) 1 October 2003.

Malcolm Wicks: This Government is targeting money where it is most needed. And that means targeting more money on the poorest pensioners. In 1997, the rate of income support from age 60 was £68.80 for single persons and £106.80 for couples. In April 2003, the rate of minimum income guarantee from age 60 increased to £102.10 for single persons and £155.80 for couples.
	Pension credit, introduced on 6 October 2003, abolishes the old weekly means test, replacing it with a less intrusive form of assessment. From age 65, most pensioners will have their awards fixed for five years at a time. In addition, pension credit is intended to reward rather than penalise those people who have modest amounts of second pension or other savings.
	Compared with the 1997 system as a result of the Government's measures including pension credit, on average, from October 2003, pensioner households are £1,250 a year better off in real terms, around £24 extra a week, and the poorest third of pensioner households will have gained £1,600 a year in real terms.

Royal Mint

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the health and safety record of the Royal Mint in Llantrisant.

Malcolm Wicks: The Royal Mint at Llantrisant is treated by the Health and Safety Executive the same as any other similar manufacturing operation, and irrespective of the issue of Crown Immunity, to the same regulatory regime and standards.
	There have been three fatalities since the operation has been on this site; one in 1987, one in 1992 and one in June 2001. The fatality in June 2001 resulted in Crown Censure proceedings. Substantial remedial measures were put in place following this tragedy.
	Over the last few years reportable accidents at the Mint have been falling; 34 in 2001, 26 in 2002 and 10 to date in 2003. This is below the national average for manufacturing industry for last year (November to November).
	In 2001 a Crown Improvement Notice was served on the Royal Mint requiring risk assessments associated with workplace transport to be carried out. This was complied with fully by the Royal Mint and the Notice discharged.
	In June 2003 there was a breakout of molten metal from an induction furnace on site. There were no injuries. Following investigation the Mint management produced an action plan and have acted positively upon this plan, and the advice given by HSE inspectors. No formal enforcement action arose out of this matter.
	Activities at the site require that the Royal Mint submits a safety report to the HSE under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999. This report was submitted in January 2002 as required by those Regulations. HSE will carry out inspections and interventions on the Royal Mint site taking into account the safety report, as it would for any other site with similar industrial risks.

HEALTH

Care Homes

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what representations he has made to Essex County Council over proposals for the sale of the council's care homes; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what powers he has to intervene on proposals by Essex County Council to sell care homes owned by the Council.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government cannot influence decisions taken by local councils or decide for them how they should manage their services. It is for local councils to make such decisions and I have no plans to intervene.
	The twelve care home homes are being transferred, either through leasehold disposal or sale of the freehold, to the independent sector. I understand the council is pursuing this option as a way of increasing residential care capacity and strengthening partnership working with the independent sector.

Ambulance Service

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of category B emergency calls were answered within 19 minutes in (a) the East Midlands Ambulance Trust area, (b) Rutland county and (c) Melton borough in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what percentage of category A emergency calls were answered within eight minutes in (a) the East Midlands Ambulance Trust area, (b) Rutland county and (c) Melton borough in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what percentage of emergency calls from GPs' surgeries were answered within 15 minutes in (a) the East Midlands Trust area, (b) Rutland Council area and (c) Melton borough in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many times in each of the past 12 months an ambulance has taken over (a) 15, (b) 30, (c) 50, (d) 60 and (e) 90 minutes to respond to category A emergency calls in (i) the East Midlands Ambulance Trust area, (ii) Rutland county and (iii) Melton borough; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  on how many occasions in each of the past 12 months an ambulance has taken over (a) 30, (b) 50, (c) 60 and (d) 90 minutes to respond to category B emergency calls in (i) the East Midlands Ambulance Trust area, (ii) Rutland county and (iii) Melton borough; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not centrally available in the format requested. However, the latest information about the proportion of emergency calls resulting in an ambulance arriving at the scene of the reported incident within the Governments target response times for all ambulance trusts can be found in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin, "Ambulance Services, England 2002/2003".
	Copies of the bulletin are available in the Library and also on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0313.htm.

Cancer Specialists

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003 in Hull and the East Riding waited longer than eight weeks after being referred to a cancer specialist.

Melanie Johnson: Information on the number of patients waiting longer than eight weeks after being referred to a cancer specialist is not collected by the Department. Statistics are collected on the number of patients who wait more than 28 days for a first outpatient appointment following general practitioner urgent referral with suspected cancer. For Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust, when the referral was received within 24 hours, one patient waited more than 28 days to see a cancer specialist in 2001–02 and three patients waited longer than 28 days in 2002–03.
	Source:Department of Health form QMCW.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer from the Secretary of State for Transport of 15 September, Official Report, columns 499–500W, on deep vein thrombosis, when the research will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: A research project on the public perceptions of the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and the awareness and use of information sources relating to DVT was commissioned earlier this year on behalf of the Aviation Health Working Group. A draft report is currently being peer reviewed and will be published in 2004.

Dementia

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with dementia live in residential care; and how many people with dementia in residential care are funded by the NHS.

Stephen Ladyman: Information is not available centrally in the form requested.

Midwifery

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were available in the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust in the last two quarters for which figures are available.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer issued on 20 October
	Information on the number of beds is collected and published on an annual basis. In 2002–03, the average daily number of open and staffed beds in the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust was 1,391.
	Source:Department of Health form KH03.

North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which organisations and individuals have so far been consulted by North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust on their plans for future service provision;
	(2)  when North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust intends to publish its plan for the re-organisation of services; and what the timetable is for consultation on these proposals.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 21 October 2003
	The chief executives of North Cheshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust and Warrington and Halton primary care trusts are working together to build on recent discussions with general practitioners and hospital clinicians from Halton and Warrington concerning developments to surgical services.
	The trust plans to discuss the views of its clinicians and those within primary care at its next board meeting on 6 November 2003. Following the trust board discussion, the Overview and Scrutiny Committees of Warrington and Halton will need to take a view on whether formal consultation is required. The North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust is not planning to undertake a major re-organisation of its services.

North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he will take to ensure that people living in areas of health deprivation in North Warrington are consulted about future service provision at North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that the needs of people living in the most deprived areas of Warrington North are met by any future re-organisation of services at North Cheshire Hospitals.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 21 October 2003
	Warrington Primary Care Trust (PCT) will continue to be closely involved in the development of acute services in North Cheshire. In conjunction with North Cheshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust, Warrington PCT will engage with Warrington Borough Council and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to ensure appropriate consultation with Warrington residents in relation to developments in health care.
	If plans require formal consultation, Warrington PCT will ensure that local people have a range of opportunities to give their views and every effort will be made to ensure equity issues are addressed.
	There is a programme of activity in Warrington to address deprived areas. Warrington Health and Well Being Partnership, which is led by Warrington PCT, are in the process of compiling the Health Improvement Plan. Deprivation in Warrington Central is the key priority of this plan. There is a programme of activity in Warrington to address deprived areas. Warrington Health and Well Being Partnership, which is led by Warrington PCT, are in the process of compiling the Health Improvement Plan. Deprivation in Warrington Central is the key priority of this plan.

Travel Vaccines

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to general practitioners on (a) the provision of travel vaccines and (b) the appropriate charge for such vaccines.

Melanie Johnson: The guidance for vaccines provided on the National Health Service are listed in the Statement of Fees and Allowances, which is known as the Red Book.
	General practitioners may only charge for travel vaccinations where they receive no remuneration for providing such a vaccination from the NHS. In such circumstances the charge levied is a private matter between the patient and their GP.

Vehicle Emissions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on human (a) health, (b) mortality and (c) morbidity of the emission of ultrafine particles by the UK vehicle parc.

Melanie Johnson: The evidence on the biological effects of ultrafme particles has been described in the 2001 report, Airborne Particles, by the expert panel on air quality standards. The panel noted that only limited evidence was available on the effect of ultrafme particles on health in humans. For this reason, the Department has not at this stage assessed the impact of ultrafme particles from vehicles on human health.
	The report is available on the website of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at www.defra.qov.uk/environment/airquaritv/aqs/air measure/index.htm.

Viruses

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned to create new mutations of viruses that can be deprived of their species' specific properties; and which of these viruses (a) are being and (b) have been used for genetic engineering.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 16 September 2003
	Genetically disabled viruses are widely used in scientific and medical research. The focus of funding provided by the Department is primarily on research that brings the benefits of new medicines into the National Health Service. Basic scientific research of the type referred to in the question is mainly commissioned through the Medical Research Council.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Divorced Parents (Removal of Children from UK)

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research has been commissioned by his Department on the number of divorced fathers who manage to maintain effective contact with their children should the children's mother be granted leave to remove them from the United Kingdom; and what steps his Department takes to monitor the welfare of such children.

David Lammy: My Department has not commissioned research into this issue. We do not monitor the welfare of children who live abroad with their mothers with the agreement of the court.

Divorced Parents (Removal of Children from UK)

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many applications were made by (a) mothers and (b) fathers in each of the last five years for which figures are available for leave to remove children from the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom courts; and how many of those applications were (i) granted and (ii) rejected.

David Lammy: The number of orders made under Section 13 of the Children Act 1989 for removal from the jurisdiction since 2000 (when figures were first collected) were as follows. The figures in brackets were the number of those made by consent.
	2000—190 (41)
	2001—292 (65)
	2002—333 (88)
	2003— 1 344 ( 1 90)
	1 Figures for January to September inclusive.
	No separate figures are held for mothers or fathers, nor is information available about the number of applications that were refused.

Divorced Parents (Removal of Children from UK)

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what information his Department holds about (a) the research findings and (b) other formal evidence available to the courts about the impact upon (i) mothers seeking leave to remove children from the United Kingdom should their application be denied and (ii) the impact upon children of losing access to their father should such leave be granted to the mother.

David Lammy: We are not aware of any research or other formal evidence in relation to this issue.

European Elections

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans the Department has to encourage the electorate to participate in European Elections.

Christopher Leslie: The Government introduced the European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Bill on 17 September. This will permit innovative voting systems to be piloted in selected regions at next year's European Parliamentary elections building on the experience gained from the piloting of innovative systems at local election level. This is designed to adapt to the needs of today's changing lifestyles and the work and family commitments which people have.
	In addition, the Electoral Commission has a statutory responsibility to promote public awareness of current electoral systems, including the European Parliamentary elections. It recently conducted research on people's attitude to the European Parliamentary elections and the findings will inform their campaign to encourage greater participation by the electorate at next year's elections. A copy of that research 'Public opinion and the 2004 elections' is available on the Electoral Commission's website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk. The Institute for Citizenship is also running a 'Get the Vote Out 2004!' campaign (with support from the Electoral Commission) to raise awareness and encourage participation. The Government fully supports these initiatives.

Franchise (EU Citizens)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what measures he proposes to take to enable citizens of countries who will be admitted to European Union membership in April 2004 to be admitted to the franchise in time for local government and European elections in June 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The local and European Parliamentary Elections (Registration of Citizens of Accession States) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/1557) and the Representation of the People (Form of Canvass) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/1899) were introduced earlier this year in time for the annual electoral registration canvass, which permit citizens of States that are due to accede to the European Union next year who are resident in this country to register to vote in local government and European Parliamentary elections to be held on or after 1 May 2004.

Young Voters

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what changes to the voting system are planned to encourage young people to vote.

Christopher Leslie: The Government are keen to encourage young people to participate in elections. My Department has contributed to the Children and Young People Unit's work in the Department for Education and Skills on the engagement of young people in democracy. We fully support the Electoral Commission's campaigns and competitions aimed specifically at young people and the addition of 'citizenship studies' to the school curriculum. All these developments recognise the importance and value of voting and aim to increase the interest, understanding and involvement of young people with democratic processes. The use of new technology to vote, as piloted in recent local elections, is also regarded as having particular appeal for younger voters.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Seekers

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what efforts are made to prepare a local population for the reception of dispersed asylum seekers in their area prior to arrival of the asylum seekers; and what guidance is given by his Department on this.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has systems in place to ensure local authorities and other agencies in an area to which asylum seekers are to be sent for the first time are fully consulted to minimise the risk of asylum seekers being placed inappropriately in an area.
	However, I do not believe this is appropriate and in future NASS staff will be responsible for ensuring that consultation and a joint approach is developed at local level. Primarily, this will be achieved by the regionalisation of NASS, a process ensuring the successive devolution of NASS staff and functions to regional offices. This will enable the dialogue and joint work with regional consortia, local authorities other agencies and NASS to develop.

Burglary

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the cost of burglary to (a) the commercial sector, (b) the public sector and (c) private individuals in each year between 1995 and 2002.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office made estimates of the economic and social cost of crime in England and Wales in 1999–2000. Estimates were published in Home Office Research Study 217 (HORS 217), "The economic and social costs of crime". This study estimated that the average burglary in a dwelling costs society around £2,300 (including £830 in property stolen and damaged). The average burglary not in a dwelling costs society around £2,700 (including £1,200 in property stolen and damaged). It is currently not possible to make a distinction between public and commercial sector burglary in respect of costs.
	These figures for numbers of burglaries recorded can be applied to the estimates of the average costs of burglaries presented in HORS 217. This gives total costs of recorded burglary as follows:
	
		Table 1—Total economic and social cost of burglaries recorded by the police, 1995 to 2002–03 (constant 2000 prices) -- £ million
		
			  Burglary and aggravated burglary in a dwelling Burglary andaggravated burglary other than in a dwelling 
		
		
			 1995 1,480 1,609 
			 1996 1,385 1,519 
			 1997 1,194 1,339 
			 1997–98 1,154 1,314 
			 1998–99 1,088 1,293 
			 1998–99 1,089 1,296 
			 1999–2000 1,018 1,252 
			 2000–01 927 1,169 
			 2001–02 990 1,210 
			 2002–03 1,007 1,219 
		
	
	However, these figures do not take into account those burglaries which are not reported to the police. The British Crime Survey (BCS) collects information on household burglaries which are both reported and not reported, and figures for numbers of household burglaries for the period 1995 to 2002–03 are reported in HOSB 07/03. These can be used to derive estimates for the total costs (in constant prices) of household burglary over this period are given in Table 2. The BCS does not provide information on burglaries in premises other than households.
	
		Table 2—Numbers of household burglaries reported in the British Crime Survey, with estimated total economic and social costs (constant 2000 prices), 1995 to 2002–03 -- £ million
		
			  Burglaries Total cost 
		
		
			 1995 1,743,000 4,009 
			 1997 1,589,000 3,655 
			 1999 1,261,000 2,900 
			 2001–02 966,000 2,222 
			 2002–03 974,000 2,240

Correspondence

Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used in deciding whether a detailed reply to letters from members of the public is appropriate.

David Blunkett: holding answer 20 September 2003
	The Department follows the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, Second Edition (1997). The Code supports the policy of extending access to official information and responding to reasonable requests for information. The approach to the release of information in all cases is based upon the assumption that information should be released except where disclosure would not be in the public interest as specified in Part II of the Code. Where information cannot be provided under the terms of the Code an explanation will normally be given.
	Responses are not sent to correspondence that is considered to be offensive. Examples of such letters include those that are gratuitously sexually explicit or threaten violence.

Interpreters

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost is of (a) interpretation facilities and (b) interpreters to each (i) police force and (ii) probation service area.

Hazel Blears: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Media Training

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was to his Department of media and voice training for ministers and officials in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: Media training is available to Ministers and given to selected officials, mainly Prison Service Media Liaison Officers, immigration officers and senior appointees.
	No Ministers or officials have been on training courses exclusively for the purpose of voice training. However one minor element of the Government's Centre for Management and Policy Studies' (CMPS) Creating Personal Impact course attended by senior officials does include an introduction to effective use of the voice. It is not possible to break down the cost of this element but since 1997 costs associated with the whole course total around £5,000.
	Details and costs of all individual training courses are not held centrally and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Police Custody (Deaths)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths there have been of civilians while in police custody in police stations in (a) Southend-on-Sea and (b) Essex in each year since 2001.

Hazel Blears: There have been no such deaths in police stations in Southend-on-Sea or any other part of Essex in the period referred to.

Prisoner Transportation

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment of procedures ensuring the safety of prisoners travelling in police vans will be made by (a) his Department and (b) another regulatory body;
	(2)  if he will issue guidance on the introduction of safety belts for prisoners in police security vans;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on recorded injuries to prisoners travelling in police vans in the past five years.

Hazel Blears: Information is not collected centrally on injuries to people travelling in police vans. Cellular vehicles are not required to have seat belts but under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (as amended), all new vehicles built after 1 October 2001 require appropriate anchorage points. The Association of Chief Police Officers issues operational guidance on the use of protected police vehicles. The safety and transportation of people in police vehicles is a matter for the chief officer of police for that area.

Terrorism Act

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when, and for what areas, he has signed authorisations for the use by the police of section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Hazel Blears: The use of the section 44 Stop & Search power is authorised by a senior police officer of at least the rank of Assistant Chief Constable. The role of the Secretary of State is to confirm those authorisations.
	Between 19 February 2001 and 30 September 2003 a total of 653 authorisations by a senior police officer under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 received confirmation from the Secretary of State. 583 of these relate to English police forces, and 70 to Welsh police forces.
	It has been a longstanding policy of this and previous administrations not to comment on anti-terrorist operations. To provide a more detailed breakdown of the areas and times covered by Section 44 authorisations would put into the public domain, information that could prove valuable to terrorists.
	Many forces run short term, localised operations for a variety of situations, that are supported by section 44 powers. These can include protective security operations for events or VIPs, intelligence gathering operations or measures taken in response to intelligence and threat assessments. To disclose detailed information on the times and locations of such operations could compromise their future effectiveness.